Kate O’Connor was welcomed home by crowds of supporters in Dundalk after her Heptathlon victory as Team Ireland celebrate a record medal performance at the SPAR European Athletics Championships
SPAR and EUROSPAR Ambassador Kate O’Connor received a hero’s welcome following her gold medal performance and a record achievement for Team Ireland after an incredible week for Irish sport. O’Connor’s gold in the Heptathlon at the SPAR European Athletics Championships marked another major milestone in an outstanding run of form for the Louth athlete with her Irish teammates also delivering a series of standout performances to make it the country’s most successful European Championships in history.
This is the thirtieth year of SPAR being the title sponsor of the championships and demonstrates the brand’s support of elite sport at a European level, along with its backing of local clubs and community programmes across Ireland. Earlier this year, O’Connor was announced as one of SPAR and EUROSPAR’s official Team Ireland Ambassadors with the expansion of the retailers’ partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, supporting the brands’ “Hungry for Success” campaign and Community Fund initiative. This was established to support sports clubs nationwide and help nurture future generations of Irish athletes.
This partnership also builds on SPAR and EUROSPAR’s extensive heritage of supporting local and elite sports along with sponsoring the European Athletics Championships since 1996. This includes support for more than 80 competitions and consistently promoting healthy living through sport and a balanced diet. Since the first store opened back in 1963, SPAR and EUROSPAR have a long track record of serving Irish communities across Ireland through its contributions to local clubs, community and charity programmes.
Suzanne Weldon, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at BWG Foods, owners and operators of the SPAR and EUROSPAR brands in Ireland, said: “Congratulations to Kate and all the Irish sports stars who represented the country with such distinction over the last week. Kate’s gold medal is a fantastic achievement and reflects the commitment and determination that have made her one of Ireland’s most exciting sporting talents. Having seen up close how she interacts with the children and families at our various events, she is an outstanding role model for young people and it is very special to have her on the team as a SPAR and EUROSPAR Ambassador. I know the performances delivered by Team Ireland over the last few days have inspired clubs and communities right across the country and show the importance of supporting grassroots participation through to elite competition. We are also very proud for SPAR to have continued as the title sponsor of the European Athletics Championships for three decades now and the organisers and all the athletes who took part deserve tremendous credit.”
