Paralympics Ireland hosts first multisport camp of Rio Games cycle

Almost thirty athletes from across six sports are coming together in Limerick this weekend for the initial Paralympics Ireland multisport training camp of the Rio Games cycle. The camp provides a valuable opportunity for athletes from the 2014 Paralympics Ireland Panel to train in a multisport setting while accessing the services of the sports science and medical team; physiology, nutrition, physiotherapy and strength and conditioning amongst others.

A number of leading Paralympians including London medallists Darragh McDonald, Orla Barry, Catherine O'Neill will be in attendance alongside emerging athletes like canoeist Patrick O'Leary keen to avail of all the supports on offer this weekend. Also notable is the welcome return of the 7-a-side CP football squad who agonisingly missed out on London qualification.

A further group of athletes from para-cycling, table tennis, swimming will attend the Limerick camp under Paralympics Ireland's new Fast Track Programme. This programme provides ring fenced supports for promising athletes that have emerged from the post London 2012 talent search, and it is hoped the camp will prove a huge learning opportunity for them.

Speaking about the camp Paralympics Ireland Performance Manager Dave Malone said; 'This is our first engagement of the Rio Games cycle as one entity. Whilst the athletes are pursuing their own performance programmes daily, and in camp regularly within their own sports it is always extremely beneficial to bring the sports together to train and access the variety of performance services available. It's set to be another busy year with a European or World Championships as the focus for the majority of athletes so it's great to come together before everyone moves into their competition phases.'

Planning for the 2016 Rio Games is well advanced with a delegation from Paralympics Ireland travelling to Uberlandia in May; the chosen destination for the Pre Games holding camp in 2016, to progress arrangements. Following the busy summer competition period Paralympics Ireland will host a Team Development Conference for the whole panel and support staff in November.