Paralympic Sport PCI announce appointment of Community Partnership Manager

For Immediate Release Date 12th August, 2010


PCI ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF PATRICK HASLETT AS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP MANAGER

Vital position created with the support of Vodafone Ireland Foundation's
"World of Difference" Programme

The Paralympic Council of Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Patrick Haslett as Community Partnership Manager with the organisation. Haslett joins the organisation as his chosen charity as a winner in Vodafone Ireland Foundation's "World of Difference" programme (WoD).

The WoD is an annual initiative whereby applicants work for a year with their charity of choice with financial support provided by the Vodafone Ireland Foundation. Haslett's main aim will be to develop commercial revenue streams to benefit all levels of Paralympic sport in Ireland.

Haslett, a former professional rugby player from Scotland, has worked as a senior lawyer with Vodafone Ireland for the last 3 years and has a strong background in sport.

Speaking on the commencement of his role with PCI, Haslett stated: "The next 12 months is a very exciting and crucial time for Paralympic sport in Ireland and I look forward to helping PCI maximise public and corporate support for Team Ireland's preparation for London 2012. On a personal note, I'm really excited to be working with a really dynamic and progressive movement like Paralympic sport and I feel we can achieve great things this year."

Liam Harbison, CEO of the Paralympic Council of Ireland commented: "We are delighted to welcome Patrick to the staff team at PCI. It says a lot about his pedigree that of 370 applicants for the WoD programme this year, he was one of the four successful candidates. His arrival comes at just the right time as we try to maximise awareness of Paralympic sport in the build up to London 2012 and to increase our revenue to support Ireland's Paralympic hopefuls ."

-ENDS-

For further information contact:
On the Paralympic Council of Ireland - John Fulham, PCI Communications Officer, 087-2709182 communications@pcireland.ie

Also visit:
www.pcireland.ie
www.facebook.com/pcireland
www.youtube.com/paralympiccouncil
www.london2012.com

Additional Information:
The Paralympic Council of Ireland was founded in 1987 and is responsible for the preparation and management of the Irish team in the lead up to, and at, the Paralympic Games, and the development of Paralympic sport in Ireland.

Olympic style games for elite athletes with a physical disability were first held in Rome in 1960. Today, the Paralympic Games are a major global sporting event for elite athletes with disabilities. The Games emphasise the participants' athletic achievements rather than their disability. Athletes compete in various classes of competition, and are classified according to their disability.

The movement has grown dramatically since its first days. The number of athletes participating in Summer Paralympic Games has increased from 400 athletes from 23 countries in Rome in 1960 to over 4000 athletes from 153 countries in Beijing in 2008. London will host the 2012 Games. Ireland has a proud tradition at the Games, winning 5 medals (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze) in Beijing 2008.

2012 Irish Paralympic Team Sponsors:
Renault Ireland
O'Neills
OCS Ireland


2012 Irish Paralympic Team Partners:
Irish Sports Council
Institute of Sport
Sport Northern Ireland
Waterford Institute of Technology

--
John Fulham
Communications Officer
Paralympic Council of Ireland

Mobile - 00353-87-2709182
Email - communications@pcireland.ie
www.pcireland.ie