Irish Sports Council Announce Major Investment in Paralympic Sport to mark 100 Days to the London 2012 Paralympic Games

21 May 2012


With 100 days to go to the opening ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics Games details were provided on the key events and targets for Team Ireland.


Paralympics Ireland targeted a team of 40 for London 2012 and is set to achieve that. It aims to win 5 medals at the Games. This target is consistent with the long term goals set in the Athens Review and would emulate the team's success in Beijing.


The Irish Sports Council will provide €700,000 to support the High Performance Plan for Paralympics Ireland. In addition individual athletes will receive €625,000 in grants through the International Carding Scheme. In April the Council approved the annual core grant of €300,000 to Paralympics Ireland, bringing a total investment of €1,625,000 for the year.


Paralympic programmes are also fully integrated into the High Performance plans of Sailing, Rowing and Cycling. Additional funding for these programmes has been secured for 2012 and is included in the overall funding allocation from the Irish Sports Council to each sport.


Jimmy Gradwell, President of Paralympics Ireland said; "The Irish Sports Council funding is essential if we are to achieve our targets. We know the Team has the talent to win medals but it is about performing on the day in the most competitive arena that the athletes will ever face; we have to get to London fit and primed and hope that all the preparation will bring its reward".


John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council said: "Paralympic sport is incredibly competitive and in order to succeed you need talented athletes and coaches supported by significant investment. The whole country will get behind the team and everyone is looking forward to the Games. It is essential that everything is done in order to allow the athletes perform to their best in London. The Paralympic team has always been a source of pride to Ireland and I am sure London 2012 will be the same".


There are three remaining camps for the team in advance of London, including the first ever Paralympics Ireland Camp in Northern Ireland at the end of June, the final Renault Ireland Team 2012 Training Camp in Limerick in August and the ISC Pre Games Holding Camp in Coimbra, Portugal. The selection process will conclude in Mid June following the final opportunities for Irish athletes to qualify for the Games up to June 10th. Due to the number of countries competing at the Games (165) there are restrictions on team size. The team will be announced on 28th June.


The team will depart for the Pre-Games Camp on Aug. 16th and then travel direct to London on Aug. 24th were they will go straight to the village to prepare for competition which commences following the Opening Ceremony on Aug. 29th.


Liam Harbison, CEO of Paralympics Ireland and Chef de Mission for London said: "The excitement is really beginning to build now. We are in the final countdown and implementing all the detailed plans that have been in place since 2008. Everyone is looking forward to the camps and the final preparations for the Games; it is a lot of work and pressure but the top athletes excel in this environment".

 

Key Dates:

  • 9th June: Final Qualification
  • 28th June: Team Announcement
  • 28th June - July 1st: Camp Northern Ireland
  • Aug. 2nd - 5th : Renault Ireland Team 2012 Training Camp
  • 16th Aug: Team Departure to ISC Pre Games Training Camp, Portugal
  • 24th Aug; Team arrival to London
  • 29th Aug: Opening Ceremony

 

Support provided by the Irish Sports Council to Paralympic Sport in 2012

  • High Performance Plan €700,000
  • International Carding Scheme €625,000
  • Core Funding €300,000

 

Institute of Sport

The Institute of Sport deliver vital service support to Ireland's Paralympic Team and are an important part of Ireland's preparation for London 2012. Services provided include Lifestyle, Nutrition, Performance Analysis , Physiology and Coach Development. The Institute will have staff on the ground in London ensuring Ireland's athletes can maximise their performance potential at the Games.

 

Current Paralympic World Champions

  • Catherine O'Neill: F51 Womens Discus
  • Catherine Walsh / Fran Meehan: Womens Tandem Cycling Track 3km Pursuit
  • Michael McKillop: T37 Mens 800m & 1500m
  • Colin Lynch: C2 Mens Cycling Road Time Trial & Track 4km Pursuit
  • Mark Rohan: H1 Mens Handcycling Time Trial and Road Race

 

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

  • 45 athletes in 9 sports
  • 5 medals:
  • Michael McKillop (Athletics): T37 800m Gold Medal
  • Jason Smyth (Athletics): T13 100m & 200m Gold Medals
  • Gabriel Shelly (Boccia): BC1 Individual Bronze Medal
  • Darragh McDonald (Swimming): S6 Mens 400m Freestyle