OFI President Lochlann Walsh has said the Team Ireland Foundation will help ensure that sport has a positive impact on Irish society for generations.
He was speaking at the Olympic Sport Awards, held in Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre.
A New Initiative for Irish Sport
At the Awards, Mr Walsh highlighted how Team Ireland Foundation will provide a platform for philanthropic support, helping athletes and the systems that nurture them to reach their full potential.
“The Foundation will be about more than medals—it’s about empowering athletes, building stronger communities, and creating lasting role models for future generations,” said Mr Walsh.
He added that with government-supported tax incentives for donations, the Foundation offers a unique opportunity for everyone to contribute to the future of Irish Olympic sport.
Honouring Our Olympic Legacy
As part of the evening, the OFI celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Games. Mr Walsh remarked when Team Ireland travelled to Sydney, they were competing at the dawn of a new era.
“That cycle marked a turning point: the creation of the Department of Sport and Sport Ireland and the introduction of strategic investment in sport. With hindsight, it is clear that those decisions laid the foundations for the Team Behind the Team – a system that supports Ireland’s athletes to deliver what we witnessed in Paris: our largest team, the most sports, some amazing 4th places, seven medals, our most successful Games ever.”
Mr Walsh added: “But as every athlete knows, standing still is going backwards. Just as the investments of the early 2000s took a generation to bear fruit, the choices we make now will shape Irish sport for decades to come.”
Looking to the Future
Lochlann Walsh said as Team Ireland prepares for Milano Cortina, Los Angeles, and Brisbane, the Team Ireland Foundation will play a central role in ensuring athletes have the resources and support to deliver more moments that inspire the nation.
“Sport is about the impact it has on our society, our children, and our communities—and the Foundation ensures that impact will continue for generations to come.”