On January 7th, the Irish Institute of Sport opened it’s doors to representatives of various sports National Governing Bodies, the Minister for Sport, Transport and Tourism Pascal Donohue and the media to view the new facility. At a cost of €4 million, the Institute will endeavour to help Ireland’s future Olympic hopefuls train in preparation for the Games. It’s mission, as per the website:
The mission of the Irish Institute of Sport is to support Irish Sports to reach World Podiums by driving excellence in the high performance system through the delivery of world class services.
180 athletes, 20 sports and 47 high performance coaches will benefit from the centre which features a dedicated boxing gym, a fully equipped strength and conditioning area, a 4 lane indoor running track (with an integrated long jump area), a medicine and rehab area which will provide sports medicine, physiotherapy, physiology, performance analysis, nutrition, strength and conditioning, life-skills and psychology, an athletes village which consists of changing areas, kitchen facilities and a chill out area.
Ireland’s top gymnasts may be looking to gain use of the facility in the coming months in preparation for the Test Event. As yet, Ireland still does not have a national training centre, the centre itself is in the process of being built. With a target completion date of November 2016, the National Indoor Arena feature the national indoor athletics track, national gymnastics centre and the national indoor sports centre which will cater for up to 26 sports.
Click through to the42.ie to view photographs from their visit to the Institute of Irish Sport
