Electric Ireland to sponsor Irish Olympic team at Rio 2016

Electric Ireland will sponsor their country's Olympic team at Rio 2016, it has been announced ©Sportsfile

Energy company Electric Ireland will sponsor the Irish team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) President Patrick Hickey has announced.

As part of their Smarter Living programme, which aims to demonstrate how some of the Olympic values such as health, fitness, performance and energy can be beneficial to the health of the nation’s residents, Electric Ireland will support the OCI’s athletes in the lead-up to the Games in the Brazilian city.

The agreement was unveiled at an event attended by Ryder Cup-winning captain Paul McGinley and Athletics Ireland high performance director Kevin Ankrom, Ireland’s Olympic team leaders.

They were accompanied by Olympic boxing champion Katie Taylor, two-times boxing bronze medallist Paddy Barnes, hurdles athlete Thomas Barr, modern pentathlon Olympian Natalya Coyle and triathlete Aileen Reid.

“The OCI are delighted to have Electric Ireland on board again as an official sponsor of Team Ireland,” Hickey said.

“Our athletes and performance support staff understand very well the marginal decisions and smart choices necessary to perform at the very best.

“Electric Ireland are helping us to ensure that Team Ireland is given every opportunity to maximise and enjoy the Olympic experience.”

Image title — Modern pentathlete Nadine Coyle is among the athletes set to benefit from Electric Ireland's new sponsorship deal for Rio 2016, which follows a similar deal for London 2012 ©Sportsfile

Electric Ireland also sponsored Team Ireland at London 2012, where the nation took home a total of five medals, including a gold from Taylor in the 60 kilograms division.

John Joe Nevin won bantamweight boxing silver, while fellow boxers Barnes and Michael Conlan claimed bronze, with Ireland’s other medal being won by Cian O’Connor in the individual jumping equestrian event.

“The Electric Ireland brand is just over four years old and we are proud that we have achieved universal awareness and strong affinity towards our brand given intense competition in the energy supply market,” Electric Ireland chief executive Pat O’Doherty said.

“Our sponsorship of Team Ireland for the London 2012 Olympic Games was instrumental in establishing Electric Ireland as a progressive, competitive brand.

"We are confident that we can build on this success by showcasing the determination of Team Ireland for 2016 through our Smarter Living Sponsorship Programme.”