Midlands Park Hotel backs staff member William Paiva for Ireland debut at World Masters Athletics Championships

Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise has announced its sponsorship of fitness instructor William Paiva as he prepares to represent Ireland at the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, as reported by Irish Hotel News, with the event taking place from 22 August to 3 September 2026.

Paiva, aged 42, is a combined events athlete with Portlaoise Athletic Club and has been selected to compete in the Decathlon and Throws Pentathlon, marking his first time in Irish colours on the international stage.

He is expected to be the only athlete from County Laois on the Irish team, with his selection marking a proud moment for both his club and athletics in the county.

WMAC Daegu 2026 will bring together around 11,000 athletes and accompanying persons from 90 countries, with the Championships open to competitors aged 35 and over and featuring 34 athletics events across track, field and road disciplines, making it one of the world's largest international masters sporting events.

The sponsorship carries an additional dimension beyond community support. Paiva is not only a sponsored athlete but also a member of the Midlands Park Hotel team, giving the partnership a direct internal resonance for the hotel's staff and management.

Sabine Wycisk, general manager of Midlands Park Hotel, said the sponsorship reflected both pride in Paiva's sporting achievement and his contribution to the hotel. "We are happy to support William as he prepares to represent Ireland," she said. "This is a fantastic achievement that reflects the discipline and commitment he brings to his sport and his role here at Midlands Park Hotel. We are incredibly proud to have William as part of our team and wish him every success in Korea. Everyone at the hotel will be cheering him on."

The deal is consistent with a pattern of Irish hospitality businesses using athlete sponsorships to build community presence and staff engagement, particularly where the sponsored individual has a direct connection to the organisation. For hotels operating in regional markets, sponsorship of locally known competitors at international events provides visibility in local and national media that would be difficult to achieve through conventional advertising.

The 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu is one of the largest gatherings of masters athletes globally, drawing competitors from across six continents and providing Irish sponsors with international brand association through the event's broad media coverage and social media reach.