Badminton Ireland has received official approval and funding through the Development of National Sports System programme of the International Olympic Committee, delivered via Olympic Solidarity, in partnership with Team Ireland / Olympic Federation of Ireland.
Following formal endorsement from the Badminton World Federation, the project has been awarded USD 70,000 to support the strengthening of badminton’s national development system in Ireland.
The approved programme focuses on two interconnected areas of system development:
- Coach Workforce Development, aimed at strengthening coach education, continuous professional development, and high-performance coaching capacity; and
- Development of Regional Training Hubs (Regional PODs), designed to expand structured training environments beyond Dublin and strengthen regional talent identification and progression.
Grassroots to High Performance
Together, these strands will enhance athlete pathways from grassroots through to high performance, while improving consistency, quality, and access across all four provinces.
The project aligns closely with Badminton Ireland’s Strategic Plan 2022–2028 and with Olympic Solidarity’s objective of building sustainable, well-governed national sports systems. It places a strong emphasis on long-term capacity building, including coach education accreditation, regional infrastructure, governance standards, and athlete welfare.
In its letter of recommendation, the Badminton World Federation highlighted the project’s integrated approach between coach education and high performance, noting that it will contribute to a more efficient and inclusive talent identification and development system, supporting Ireland’s preparation for future Olympic cycles.
Note:
The Olympic Federation of Ireland will shortly outline a further opportunity within the Olympic Solidarity – Development of National Sports System funding category for another member sport. While no funding is guaranteed, OFI’s role is to support eligible applications through appropriate governance, endorsement, and oversight in line with International Federation and Olympic Solidarity requirements.