2024 Gymnastics Ireland Exchange - wrap up!

The 2024 Gymnastics Ireland Exchange conference took place for the second year from Friday 1st of November through to Thursday 7th of November, with over 150 attendees representing over 42 clubs from across the country.

This year's hybrid, virtual and in-person knowledge exchange conference hit important areas in club inclusion and club operation such as; Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Belonging, Women in Sport, Retention of Teenage Girls in Sport and Club Complaints and Disciplinary Management.

The in-person keynote event took place in the Crown Plaza Blanchardstown on on Friday 1st of November and included top-class speakers such as, Sarah Keane President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) and the Chief Executive for Swim Ireland, Ciaran Gallagher Chief Executive for Gymnastics Ireland, Board Member of the OFI and European Gymnastics Committee, Prof. Sergio Lara-Bercial co-founder of ICOACHKIDS, Tanya Martin Head of Insight and Innovation of Women in Sport UK, Bethany Carson Sport Ireland Women in Sport Manger, Stephany Mac Sweeney Active Disability Ireland Strategic Operations Manager and closed with Luke Carson Gymnastics Ireland National Coach and Coach to Olympic Champion Rhys McClenaghan.

The gymnasts' voices were heard in the Club Discussion panel where four guest gymnasts from different clubs discussed their own experiences in the sport in terms of participation, inclusion and leadership. Guests included Grace Shinners from Limerick Gymnastics chatting about the Club's Young Leadership Programme, Darragh Furlong from Arklow Gymnastics Club sharing his club's experience in the EuroGym Gymnastics for All participation festival that took place in Norway last summer and Amelia Nolan from Athy Gymnastics Club sharing her personal experience with the GymABLE Inclusivity programme.

The in-person conference wrapped up with a club networking dinner hosted by Gymnastics Ireland. Clubs were provided with two free tickets to the dinner plus a hotel room for those that needed one.

Check out the photo highlights of this event on our Facebook page, also available  here...

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