Dublin, Ireland – The Olympic Federation of Ireland announced the addition of Ireland Lacrosse to its membership at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Ireland Lacrosse joins three other newly minted memberships of OFI: Irish Squash, American Football Ireland, and Cricket Ireland. These four sports were recently approved by the International Olympic Committee as sports on the programme for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.
For Ireland Lacrosse, this milestone represents a pivotal step towards full recognition by Ireland’s sporting governing bodies and competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. It not only validates the organisation’s steadfast commitment to excellence but also underscores the significant potential for lacrosse to flourish within the country’s sporting ecosystem.
“The inclusion of Ireland Lacrosse as a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland is a testament to the tireless efforts and remarkable progress made by the lacrosse Community,” said Sarah Keane, President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland. “We are thrilled to welcome Ireland Lacrosse into our esteemed federation, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth and success on the international stage.”
This achievement is the culmination of relentless dedication and commitment from the lacrosse community, particularly Ireland Lacrosse, which has advocated for sustainable change within its governing body. Over the past two years, Ireland Lacrosse has undertaken substantial efforts to transform its board and management structure.
Furthermore, Ireland Lacrosse has spearheaded initiatives aimed at securing recognition from governing sport agencies both domestically and internationally. Through strategic collaborations and advocacy, Ireland Lacrosse has successfully positioned itself as a leading force in the global lacrosse landscape, highlighted by hosting the 2022 Men’s U21 World Lacrosse Championship.
Ireland Lacrosse CEO Michael Kennedy stated, “We’re very excited to be part of the Irish Olympic family – an extremely welcoming community committed to mutual support of all sports and all athletes. Sport has a special place in Irish life and the Olympic Federation of Ireland is at the pinnacle of that, and we are looking forward to raising the profile of lacrosse in Ireland and Irish lacrosse in the world.”
As Ireland Lacrosse embarks on this new chapter as a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, the organisation remains steadfast in its mission to foster inclusivity, integrity, and excellence within the sport. With a renewed sense of purpose and the support of the Olympic Federation, Ireland Lacrosse is poised to make a lasting impact on the global lacrosse community.
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