First Speakers Confirmed For New Belfast Sports and Performance Conference

Among the confirmed speakers is Pierre McGuire, renowned NHL analyst and former two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach, who brings with him the highest levels of ice hockey. Joining him are Northern Ireland men’s football head coach, Michael O’Neill MBE, who is credited for Northern Ireland’s memorable Euro 2016 campaign, and Aidan and Michaela Walsh, who are the first brother and sister to box at the same Olympic Games.

Sue Ronan, former head coach of the Republic of Ireland women’s football team and current women’s football technical consultant with FIFA, will also share her invaluable experiences at PER4MANCE. Former Ulster Rugby and Ireland international Craig Gilroy, Professor Cathy Craig, a leading figure in sports science and performance analysis, and Paul McKernan, managing director of StatSports, complete the impressive lineup.

Steve Thornton, Group Head of Hockey and Commercial at The Odyssey Trust, said: “We’re proud to bring together such an exceptional group of speakers, whose depth of knowledge, experiences, and expertise will provide invaluable insights for those in attendance. PER4MANCE underscores the Friendship Four’s mission of connecting sport, education, and community, and we’re excited to witness the positive impact that this event will have.”

Set against the backdrop of the prestigious Friendship Four, which is the first and only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One men’s ice hockey tournament to take place outside of North America, PER4MANCE will aim to provide practical insights into the ever-changing landscape of elite level performance and is expected to attract a diverse audience, including sports professionals, tech startups, and industry-leading experts.

Following the conclusion of PER4MANCE, the Friendship Four will get underway at The SSE Arena, Belfast, with Boston University and Merrimack College going head-to-head in the tournament’s opening game at 2pm, before the University of Notre Dame and Harvard University hit the ice at 7pm.

Tickets for PER4MANCE are on sale now and available to purchase here. Individual tickets and weekend passes for the Friendship Four are available here.