GLL Sport Foundation celebrates record-breaking 2026 Belfast athlete intake
GLL, the charitable social enterprise that operates GLL Belfast’s 16 leisure centres under its Better brand in partnership with Belfast City Council, has announced its largest-ever GLL Sport Foundation intake in Belfast, with 210 athletes across 34 sports receiving support through the 2026 programme.
The 2026 awards represent an investment of more than £155,000 into local sporting talent, further strengthening Belfast’s position as the largest GLL Sport Foundation programme in the UK and supporting the city’s role as European City of Sport 2026. Since launching in Belfast in 2015, the foundation has supported more than 1,450 athletes, with total investment now exceeding £870,000.
The programme offers financial support, training access and athlete services across Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and grassroots sports, helping competitors from junior level through to established internationals.
Past recipients include Shirley McCay, Michaela Walsh and Aidan Walsh, who now serve as ambassadors. They are joined this year by Philip Doyle, Olympic bronze medallist and world silver medallist, who also spoke at the awards event.
The ceremony brought together athletes, coaches, ambassadors and civic leaders to celebrate local sporting success and the continued growth of the programme.
Gareth Kirk, Senior Regional Director at GLL, said reaching 210 supported athletes in 2026 marked a major milestone, adding that Belfast’s European City of Sport year made it an especially significant moment to invest in the next generation of elite athletes.
Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly said the partnership continues to make a real difference by helping reduce the financial barriers athletes face in training and competition.
Shirley McCay said the foundation’s support can be transformative, particularly for young athletes balancing sport with education, and added that the record number of recipients highlights the strength of Belfast’s sporting future.