Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland

U.L. was a hub of excitement last weekend at the Corporate Games Events but the main focus was on Sat 22^nd at the Boccia event.

This year Limerick City Sports Partnership teamed up with the Corporate Games in a quest to demonstrate that sport can be inclusive for all abilities and to highlight the opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport.

This year the game of Boccia was introduced under the Coordination of Siobhàn O’Malley Sports Inclusion Disability Officer with LCSP. The game is primarily played by athletes with severe to profound physical disabilities but can be played by all. Saturdays event had over 8 teams competing from both disability organisations and companies all over Ireland. Limerick was very well represented at the games with teams from Enable Ireland, Spina Bifida, LCSP, and Hilton Hotel.

From 9am that morning to 5pm that evening barriers were broken, attitudes were changed, friendships were made but on the court of play it was a battle no exceptions, no handicaps and certainly no sympathy was given. The games were a fight to beat your opponent on tactical, technical and mental abilities. They were games where everything happened and the finals were testament to that.

It saw Cerebral Palsy Sports Ireland and Cameron Ireland LTD. in the final and Spina Bifida and Kerry Sports Partnership in the play offs. The atmosphere was tense as friends and family watched in anticipation with every ball throw. Three disability teams in the finals, competing on the same playing pitch with the same rules proved that sports can be inclusive of all abilities. Cerebral Palsy Sports Ireland Team were the winning victors and Spina Bifida Team winning Bronze. The caption of the Spina Bifida team Steven had this to say “I for one was ecstatic that we won medals as it was my first competition. I found it to be a great learning kerb. My team mates, Michelle was delighted that we did so well and poor Colette was in tears she was so happy.”