HPX Conference to Bring Global High Performance Sport Leaders to Dublin

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, today launched the Sport Ireland High Performance Knowledge Exchange (HPX) Conference, which will take place on October 6th and 7th of this year.

The HPX conference is run by the Sport Ireland Institute and Sport Ireland Coaching, and will bring together some of the world’s leaders in the area of High Performance Sport where the focus will be on “Lessons Learned from High Performance Sport: The 2020 Evolution”.

Speaking at the announcement at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, Minister O’Donovan, said: “I am delighted to officially launch the 2017 HPX Conference which will see High Performance professionals from all corners of the world descend on Dublin for the two day event. It is critically important that we bring all the voices and expertise around the table and have the opportunity to not only have their say in relation to Rio 2016, but more importantly to look forward to Tokyo 2020.

He continued, “The knowledge exchange and conversation that will take place during and around the conference will help ensure Ireland’s coaches, performance directors and athletes are equipped with the best information to continue Ireland’s success on the international stage.”

Included among the speakers at the HPX Conference are 2016 World Boxing Coach of the Year Billy Walsh, Dublin Football Manager Jim Gavin, former Tipperary Manager Liam Sheedy, Irish racewalker and World Championship Gold Medalist Olive Loughnane and Paralympian and Cross Bench Peer Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson.

Looking forward to the conference, Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy said:  “Sport Ireland is looking forward to welcoming some of the best High Performance Sports Professionals to Dublin for the HPX Conference which will be an invaluable experience for performance practitioners here in Ireland. With a line up packed with experience and insight Sport Ireland hopes that this conference will attract many visitors from overseas which will add to the overall experience of the large audience we are anticipating at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.”

The HPX Conference is an initiative of Sport Ireland Coaching and Sport Ireland Institute and Sport Ireland Coaching Director, Michael McGeehin outlined his vision for the event: “The HPX Knowledge Exchange Conference is an excellent initiative that allows us to gather the key members of the high performance sport community in Ireland and reflect on the past number of years as a community. Elite athletes need quality coaching. This year’s HPX will help us in developing the next group of high performance coaches coming through, and help us to raise the standard, status and profile of coaching in Ireland to provide performers and participants with the best quality coaching through their involvement in sport.”

Director of the Sport Ireland Institute Liam Harbison added: “This is the third HPX Knowledge Exchange Conference, and it will be Ireland’s largest gathering of High Performance sports professionals this year. HPX will bring people together to really capture the lessons learned from the Rio cycle from an athlete, coach, and a performance leader perspective, as well as from the wider system, putting those lessons on paper, debating them and looking at how they could impact our services for athletes, NGBs, and High Performance coaches, directors and their teams towards Tokyo 2020.”

2017 marks a new level of ambition for the HPX Knowledge Exchange Conference, with over 40 speakers from 9 countries confirmed to share their key lessons learned across a range of key human performance domains. The Conference aims to showcase some of the key lessons identified by top athletes, coaches, science professionals and performance leaders during the Rio 2016 cycle, and to explore the role of talent development in shaping the future of high performance sport.

The HPX 2020 Evolution will provide a variety of keynote speakers, case studies and workshops from key influencers from the world of high performance sport. The conference is a key event for high performance coaches working in professional or amateur performance and elite sport, coach developers, national governing body staff and leaders, sport science and medical professionals working in professional or amateur elite sport, as well for academic leaders and students from a Sport Science & Management background.

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