Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland

03/05/2009 - ParaLions Athlete Search Day an outstanding success in DCU yesterday

The ParaLions Athlete Search Day (PASD), supported by the Irish Sports Council, was an outstanding success in Dublin City University yesterday with over 400 people participating during the course of the 6 hour event. 

The aim of the event was primarily to encourage people with disabilities into Paralympic Sport.  Each participant was briefly profiled by a group of Paralympic experts to establish the sports in which their functional profile made them eligible for Paralympic competition. Following this, they entered the exhibition hall where 16 Paralympic sports had exhibition stands and participation opportunities.  In addition, the non Paralympic sports of triathlon and Powerchair Football along with a stand manned by a group of Sport Inclusion Disability Officers where also represented.

For many, the highlight of the day was the chance to meet the stars on the 2008 Irish Paralympic Team such as David Malone, Michael McKillop, Padraic Moran, Patrice Dockery and many more.  Not only, did they meet them, they got the opportunity to participate alongside many of them during the sports demonstrations.

Many of the exhibitors reported the emergence of a wealth of new talent on the day and the potential for many of the ParaLions to be fast tracked into their sports programmes.  Who knows, perhaps one or two of the ParaLions will make the Irish Team for London 2012.

Further details on the PASD and the ParaLions programme are available by clicking here.

INFO Source: Paralympic Council of Ireland - www.pcireland.ie