PARALYMPICS Irelands Paralympic Team Departs for Beijing

25 Aug 2008


Ireland's Paralympic team of 45 athletes, coaches and support staff departed Dublin Airport this morning bound for the team's training camp in the Chinese capital ahead of the 2008 Paralympic Games, which get started in thirteen days time.


Well over a couple of hundred family and friends, and well wishers including former Irish cricket coach Adi Burrell, and Irish football great Packie Bonner packed into the airport hotel for the team's farewell reception last night.


Chef de Mission to the Irish team Jimmy Byrne said: "We started this journey four years ago and here we are now on the doorstep of the Games. It was tremendous to see so many family, friends and supporters turn out last night to send us off on the crest of a wave. They've supported the athletes to unimaginable lengths to see them reach this point and we're very thankful for that, as we are of the constant support from the Irish Sports Council and our team of sponsors."


He continued: "I can say without compromise this team has left nothing behind in the preparation for these Games. Now is their time to shine, to live their dream and make themselves, their families, friends, and Ireland proud. I have no doubt that is exactly what they will do."


The Irish team will remain in their holding camp in the Loong Palace Hotel on the outskirts of the city until they move to the Paralympic village on September 1st. Track athlete Patrice Dockery will lead this Irish team into the Bird's Nest Stadium on September 6th as Irish flag bearer for the opening ceremony of these 13th Paralympic Games.


The Irish team comprises ten track and field athletes, four cyclists (with two sighted pilot riders), one archer, four boccia players (a form of bowls for athletes with severe physical disabilities), a team of twelve footballers (7-a-side), six swimmers, five sailors, two table tennis players, and one dressage rider.


The team for the Games includes three of Ireland's medalists from the Athens Games; field athlete John McCarthy who won silver in the Greek capital, swimmer Dave Malone who claimed silver at the last Games and Derek Malone who claimed bronze on the track. Double world champion and world record holder in 100m and 200m, Jason Smyth from Derry will also feature. The team also boasts another world champion and world record holder in the 800m; teenager Michael McKillop.


RTE will televise six shows from these Paralympic Games as they follow the fortunes of this Irish team with the first one airing at 7.30pm, Sept. 6th on RTE TWO.


For Further Information:

Contact the press officers to the Irish team:

 

Additionally:

About the Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are Olympic style sports events for elite athletes with physical disabilities, or visual impairment, emphasising athletic achievement rather than disability. Approximately 4000 athletes, from over 153 countries across twenty sports will compete at the Beijing Games. Athletes compete in various classes of competition and are classified according to their disability.

Classification is simply a structure for competition. Not unlike boxing or rowing where athletes are categorised by weight classes, athletes with disabilities are grouped in classes defined by the degree of function presented by the disability.

 

Team Ireland Media Guide

A media guide to the Irish team in Beijing is available to view and download on www.pcireland.ie and hard copies of the guide are available by contacting either of the team's press officers.

 

Websites to watch