CPSI – An Overview
Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland is a voluntary body of people who train and coach athletes with cerebral palsy or related conditions in 5 sports – Soccer, Boccia , Swimming, Athletics, and Cycling. We are part funded by both the Irish Sports Council and the Paralympic Council of Ireland. We are governed by Cerebral Palsy Sport and Recreation Association (CPISRA) and we aim to promote each sport at both elite and Recreational level. Since 2006, Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland has employed a Sport Development Officer who is based in Dublin but works Nationally.
We have had much success at International an Paralympic level. In 2004 at the Paralympic Games in Athens we achieved a silver medal and a world record in Athletics. In 2000 at the Paralympic Games in Sydney, we achieved 8 medals in all – six gold (3 in Boccia, 2 in swimming and 1 in Athletics), one silver in swimming and one bronze in Athletics.
We are a Dublin based organisation with the cohort of our athletes training and participating at all levels in Limerick, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Midlands, Kilkenny and Dublin. More and more development programmes are being run out across the country, giving a wider range of services and programmes to a wider population.
Our aims and objectives as an organisation are
1. To provide the opportunity for people with Cerebral Palsy and related conditions, irrespective of age, gender or ability to take part in sporting and recreational activities.
2. To work in partnership with sporting and other organisations, on behalf of people with Cerebral Palsy and related conditions to promote involvement in sport and recreation and
3. To seek to positively influence public opinion in regard to sport and recreation for people with Cerebral Palsy and related Conditions