Launch of new Philanthropic Foundation to support Ireland's Olympic ambition
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has announced the launch of the Team Ireland Foundation, a new philanthropic initiative designed to unite supporters at home and abroad behind Ireland’s Olympic ambition and to strengthen the pathway to world-class performance for athletes targeting both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
The Foundation brings together individuals, families and organisations who believe in Ireland’s potential on the world stage. Its mission is to provide targeted enhancements that remove financial barriers, elevate performance environments and give athletes the freedom to focus fully on excellence.
The Foundation complements, rather than replaces, the current high-performance funding model, ensuring that additional resources flow directly to areas of impact.
Speaking at the launch, Lochlann Walsh, President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, said,
“An Olympic medal is never achieved by one person alone. It is shaped by the many people who have come before the athlete, by the dedication of their support network, and by the pride and motivation drawn from the millions of Irish people worldwide. The Team Ireland Foundation allows supporters to play a meaningful role in that journey. With new government tax incentives now in place, donors can also benefit from improved tax treatment when supporting Irish athletes. This is a unique opportunity for those who care deeply about Ireland’s success to help create something lasting and powerful.”
The Foundation’s impact will be delivered across three pillars:
•Games Delivery: Enhancing Ireland’s presence, support structures and performance environments at Olympic Games.
•Athlete Excellence: Providing direct support for world-class preparation, wellbeing and athlete development.
•Community Legacy: Connecting young people and communities to Olympic sport and building pride and inspiration for future generations.
Through these pillars, the Team Ireland Foundation provides a clear avenue for supporters, particularly those with strong Irish roots or a desire to see Ireland thrive on the global stage, to make a tangible and lasting difference. Contributions will support world-class preparation, ensure no opportunity is missed and strengthen the high-performance system that underpins every Team Ireland success across both Winter and Summer sports.
Peter Sherrard, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, said,
“The Foundation invites supporters to become active partners in the Olympic journey. This is a meaningful way to contribute to Ireland’s next generation of Olympians, to help create the environments that allow athletes to excel, and to share in something bigger than any one moment or medal. Ireland has extraordinary athletes and an increasingly powerful system, and the Foundation allows people around the world to invest directly, and to be a part of potential for future success.”
Olympic Champion, Daniel Wiffen, supported the launch of the foundation, saying,
“As athletes, we are always looking for that extra edge, the small differences that can put us on a level playing field with the best in the world and help us be even better. Every bit of support matters, it’s not just financial, it’s the belief and recognition that comes from knowing people are behind us. Medals are won in the long days between Games, in the training, the recovery, the hard work that no one sees. Knowing that individuals are with us on the tough days as well as the good days makes a real difference and keeps us striving for excellence.”
Supporters can learn more, explore impact stories and donate at teamirelandfoundation.ie, the central hub for all Foundation activity and Club LA contributions.
By joining the Team Ireland Foundation, donors can play a direct and influential role in shaping Ireland’s Olympic future, ensuring that when an Irish athlete steps onto the world stage, they carry not only their own ambition but the strength, belief and support of a global Irish community.