INTERSPORT AND PARKRUN JOIN FORCES!
parkrun Ireland announce official partnership with Intersport UK & Ireland!
parkrun Ireland, who deliver free timed runs at 40 locations around the country each weekend, is proud to announce that it has commenced a three year partnership with international sporting goods retailer Intersport.
Since the first parkrun in Ireland was established in the grounds of Malahide Castle in 2012, parkrun Ireland quickly developed into one of the country’s leading providers of grassroots physical activity.
Intersport is a retailer of performance sports equipment and apparel with more than 58 affiliated retailer stores in Ireland, and are a trusted source of expert advice to sports consumers.
Intersport’s mission ‘Sport to the People’, recognises its customers’ passion for sport and the essential role that the community plays within sport and physical activity.
Intersport’s investment will assist with the establishment of new parkrun events while supporting existing event teams with essential kit. Additionally, Intersport will be providing exclusive offers to parkrun Ireland’s rapidly expanding community, which currently stands at 75,000 registered participants and is growing fast.
The hugely successful RTÉ programme Operation Transformation, which helps get sedentary adults active, will this season include sessions that are capable of being completed at local parkrun events.
Operation Transformation camera crews will attend various parkruns around Ireland and feature some participants on the show.
parkrun Ireland’s Country Manager, Matt Shields said:
“parkrun Ireland and Intersport are kindred spirits that put local communities at the heart of everything they do. We are proud to be associated with an organisation that has a wide-reaching network of local independent retailers, which will provide a huge benefit to our rapidly growing community of parkrunners.”
“It’s crucial to parkrun Ireland that we only partner with organisations that share our passion for breaking down barriers and making it possible for everyone to take part in physical activity, and Intersport certainly share this vision.”
General Manager of Intersport UK & Ireland, Tom Foley added:
“parkrun has been a key player in promoting running as an accessible participation sport to the expanding community of runners throughout the UK and we are very happy to see this expand and grow in Ireland too. The parkrun model of local volunteers delivering weekly runs to people of all ages and abilities in their local community fits perfectly with the Intersport philosophy.
We are excited to see this partnership come to life and develop these running communities further together – encouraging more people to get their running shoes on.”
parkrun Ireland has been identified as a key initiative by Healthy Ireland as part of the National Physical Activity Plan, which it is expected to be published early in 2016.
parkrun Ireland is considered to have further potential for enhancing the health of communities all over Ireland and works in tandem with Sport Ireland, who support the establishment of new events through their network of Local Sports Partnerships, and with other key local stakeholders such as Athletics Ireland, local authorities and public agencies.
Healthy Ireland is about building mutually-reinforcing and integrated strategies to encourage, support and enable people to make better choices for themselves and their families.
parkrun Ireland and other Healthy Ireland supported initiatives aim to empower individuals and communities to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.
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