SPAR and EUROSPAR welcomed members of Team Ireland’s Winter Olympic delegation home today as they arrived into Dublin Airport after their return from competition in Italy. The athletes stopped at the SPAR store in Terminal 2 for a quick coffee and chat before they travelled to the official homecoming reception hosted by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
Among the athletes arriving home were alpine skiers Anabelle Zurbay and Cormac Comerford, cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgård and freestyle skier Ben Lynch who was fresh from making history on Friday, being the first Irish skier to qualify for a final at the Winter Olympics. This was in addition to Anabelle Zurbay also making history as the youngest Irish athlete to ever compete in Alpine Skiing at the Olympics.
This homecoming event continues SPAR and EUROSPAR’s support for Team Ireland through their role as Official Retail Partners to the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland. The partnership was launched last year and reflects the brands’ long-term commitment to Irish athletes and local sporting communities as the team looks further ahead to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. It is all part of SPAR and EUROSPAR’s legacy in championing local and elite sportspeople and teams, including its sponsoring of the European Athletics Championships for the last 30 years. That has extended to supporting over 80 competitions and promoting healthy living through sport and a balanced diet, along with contributing to local community groups and charity programmes.
Team Ireland Chef de Mission, Nancy Chillingworth, said: “It’s great to come home with some superb performances across our small but impressive team. The support from the Irish public over the last few weeks has been fantastic and it is great to see our Winter Olympians receiving the support and recognition they deserve.”
Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director, said: “Our team was proud to welcome the athletes home today after representing their country and reaching the biggest stage in each of their disciplines. Their dedication reflects the spirit we see in communities across Ireland every day. It is a privilege to support them on their sporting journey and to celebrate their achievements with our customers and colleagues.”
Peter Dwan, EUROSPAR Sales Director said: “Meeting the athletes this afternoon was a reminder of the hard work and commitment behind every performance at this level. We are pleased to play a small part in their homecoming and to continue supporting Team Ireland through our partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland.”
