News

Athletics Ireland and Sanctuary Runners have announced the formalisation of their official partnership which aims to bring local residents and people from a migrant background together to build friendships and better understanding, through the action of running, jogging or walking.

Sanctuary Runners and Athletics Ireland have a shared ambition to promote running and walking as an effective means of community integration, and to provide people living in direct provision or from migrant communities with greater opportunities to participate and volunteer in the sport of athletics.

Athletics Ireland and Sanctuary Runners have enjoyed a long association, and today’s announcement will further seek to provide persons in direct provision and from a migrant background with opportunities to participate in Athletics.

Athletics Ireland and Sanctuary Runners will collaborate in a number of areas, supported by Sport Ireland through Healthy Ireland funding, including the support for employment of the Sanctuary Runners Development and Partnership Officer (DO).

The partnership will also look increase access to the sport for people living in direct provision and from migrant communities, while also support existing Sanctuary Runner groups in Ireland and explore ways to strengthen links with local Athletics Clubs.

Athletics Ireland will also support the active participation of Sanctuary Runners (persons in direct provision) in Mass Participation events, with specific reference to Athletics Ireland owned events, starting with the upcoming Irish Runner 5k which takes place in the Phoenix Park on May 18th.

A special shoe donation area will be made available at upcoming Athletics Ireland events, starting with the Irish Runner 5k on May 18th. People can donate clean running shoes that still have some miles left in them to Sanctuary Runners on the day.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Sanctuary Runners Founder, Graham Clifford, said: The partnership with Athletics Ireland is so hugely important to us as it underpins the unique ability of sports to bring people together regardless of their legal status, nationality, religion, language ability, gender or sexual orientation”.