London 2012 Paralympic Games Event Schedule & Ticket information Released

There is just one year to go until London 2012 Paralympic Games get underway and a host of Irish Paralympic athletes are already eyeing a podium finish at the games next summer.

Four years ago in Beijing, the Irish Paralympic team returned home with five medals including three gold and that success has inspired the team to achieve even greater success at London 2012.  A team of approximately 40 Irish Paralympic athletes will compete in next summer’s games.

The current Paralympics Ireland elite panel contains a number of athletes that have excelled on the world stage since Beijing.  The reigning T13 100m and 200m Paralympic champion and world record holder Jason Smyth will be out to defend his sprint titles in London and is also hoping to compete in the Olympic Games earlier in the summer.

Michael McKillop, the reigning Paralympic T37 800m champion added the 800m World title to his achievements in January of this year.   Another athlete to excel this year is Catherine O’Neill who won gold and silver at the Athletics World Championships in New Zealand.  The Wexford native is hotly tipped to contend for a podium finish in the field events in London.

In cycling Mark Rohan dominated the 2011 HC1 Road World Cup Series taking gold at all four events and on the track tandem pair Catherine Walsh and Francine Meehan took bronze at the World Track Championships in Italy.  In the pool, European 100m back stroke silver medallist Bethany Firth will be looking to replicate her 2010 form in London as will Beijing silver medallist Darragh McDonald in the 400m freestyle.

Liam Harbison, CEO of Paralympics Ireland, commented, “With just one year to go a lot of Ireland’s top Paralympic athletes will be  serious medal contenders at next Summer’s Games.  With the Games taking place just across the water in London, the Paralympics present a great opportunity for Irish sports fans to witness elite Irish athletes perform and reach the podium in the same stadia that will host the Olympic Games next summer I urge our fans to get behind the team from the stands in London.”

Ticket pricing and the event schedule for the London 2012 Paralympic Games have just been announced.  Full price tickets for the Games start at £10 with £5 tickets available for those aged under 16 and over 60.  Individual ticket prices vary according to the sport and these range from £10 - £45.  Tickets for the Opening Ceremony on the 29^th August 2012 range from £20 - £500 while tickets for the Closing Ceremony on the 9^th September range from £20 - £350.  Full information on ticketing is available at www.tickets.london2012.com

Paralympics Ireland has produced a detailed ticket guide for Irish fans travelling to the Paralympic Games in London.  It is available on www.facebook.com/paralympicsireland Please note that the Irish Paralympic Team for London 2012 will not be finalised until June 2012.

Ends

For further information contact:

John Fulham, Communications Officer, Paralympics Ireland

T:         087 270 9182

E:         communications@paralympics.ie

David O’Síocháin, Pembroke Communications

T:         087 936 2440

E:         david@pembrokecomms.ie

ARCHERY

	Venue	The Royal Artillery Barracks
	Dates	Thursday 30 August - Wednesday 5 September
	Medal Events	9
	Athletes	140 (88 men, 52 women)
	Irish Hopefuls	Barry Guider, Rathmines, Dublin Jody O’Neill, Ardee, Louth
	Irish Highlights	Beijing 2008: Sean Heary, Quarter-finalist
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-archery

ATHLETICS

	Venue	Olympic Park - Olympic Stadium
	Dates	Friday 31 August - Sunday 9 September
	Medal Events	170
	Athletes	1,100 (740 men, 360 women)
	Irish Hopefuls	Orla Barry, Ladysbridge, Cork Catherine O’Neill, New Ross, Wexford Michael McKillop, Newtownabbey, Antrim Jason Smyth, Eglinton, Derry Garrett Cullinton, Clonasalee, Laois Ailish Dunne, Mountmellick, Laois John McCarthy, Dunmanway, Cork Ray O’Dwyer, Hugginstown, Kilkenny Nadine Lattimore, Clontarf, Dublin Eoin Cleare, Shinrone, Offaly James McCarthy, Castletroy, Limerick Amanda Crotty, Youghal, Cork
	Irish Highlights	Beijing 2008: Jason Smyth T13 100m & 200m Gold Medallist Michael McKillop T37 800m Gold Medallist Christchurch 2011: Michael McKillop T37 800m & 1500m Gold Medallist Catherine O’Neill F51 Discus Gold Medallist & Club Silver Medallist
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-athletics

BOCCIA

	Venue	ExCel - South Arena 1
	Dates	Sunday 2 September - Saturday 8 September
	Medal Events	7
	Athletes	104
	Irish Hopefuls	Gabriel Shelly, Baganelstown, Carlow Padraic Moran, Bray, Wicklow Roberta Connolly, Foxrock, Dublin Jason Kearney, Monkstown, Dublin John Cronin, Mallow, Cork Gerard O’Grady, Askeaton, Limerick Jennifer Garde,  Cork
	Irish Highlights	Beijing 2008: Gabriel Shelly BC1 Individual Bronze Medallist Sydney 2000: Gabriel Shelly BC1 Individual Gold Medallist John Cronin & Margaret Grant BC3 Pair Gold Medallists
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/boccia

CYCLING - ROAD

	Venue	Brands Hatch
	Dates	Wednesday 5 September - Saturday 8 September
	Medal Events	32
	Athletes	225 (155 men, 70 women) across road & track
	Irish Hopefuls	Mark Rohan, Ballinahown, Westmeath Catherine Walsh, Swords, Dublin Francine Meehan (Pilot), Killurin, Offaly Cathal Miller, Artane, Dublin Colin Lynch, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England Enda Smyth, Santry, Dublin James Brown, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, Eng. Con Collis (Pilot), Marino, Dublin Trix Schwedler, Lisselton, Kerry Andrew Fitzgerald, Warrenpoint, Down Damien Shaw, Mullingar, Westmeath
	Irish Highlights	Canada 2010: Mark Rohan HC1 World Road Champion 2011: Mark Rohan UCI World Cup Series HC1 Champion Colin Lynch UCI World Cup Series C2 Silver Medallist
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-cycling-road

CYCLING - TRACK

	Venue	Olympic Park - Velodrome
	Dates	Thursday 30 August - Sunday 2 September
	Medal Events	18
	Athletes	225 (155 men, 70 women) across road & track
	Irish Hopefuls	Mark Rohan, Ballinahown, Westmeath Catherine Walsh, Swords, Dublin Francine Meehan (Pilot), Killurin, Offaly Cathal Miller, Artane, Dublin Colin Lynch, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England Enda Smyth, Santry, Dublin James Brown, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, Eng. Con Collis (Pilot), Marino, Dublin Trix Schwedler, Lisselton, Kerry Andrew Fitzgerald, Warrenpoint, Down Damien Shaw, Mullingar, Westmeath
	Irish Highlights	Italy 2011: Catherine Walsh & Francine Meehan World Track Pursuit Bronze Medallists
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-cycling-track

EQUESTRIAN

	Venue	Greenwich Park
	Dates	Thursday 30 August - Tuesday 4 September
	Medal Events	11
	Athletes	78
	Irish Hopefuls	James Dwyer, Piltown, Kilkenny Breda Bernie, Dundalk, Louth Rosemary Gaffney, Clonmel, Tipperary Geraldine Savage, Dublin Helen Kearney, Dunlavin, Wicklow Breda Bernie, Shankill, Dublin Kate Kerr Horan, Kerry Kathryn Wheelock, England Angela Lyons, Blarney, Cork,
	Irish Highlights	Beijing 2008: Eilish Byrne Grade III 8th place Kentucky 2010 World Equestrian Games: James Dywer Grade IV 5th place
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-equestrian

ROWING

	Venue	Eton Dorney
	Dates	Friday 31 August - Sunday 2 September
	Medal Events	4
	Athletes	96 (48 men, 48 women)
	Irish Hopefuls	LTAMix4+: Kevin DuToit, London & South Africa Sarah Caffrey, Clonlara, Clare Shane Ryan, Ballybricken, Limerick Anne Marie McDaid, Ramelton, Donegal Helen Arbuthnot, Christchurch, Dorset, England
	Irish Highlights	No previous appearance by Ireland at the Paralympic Games New Zealand 2010: Ireland 5th place at FISA World Championships
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-rowing

SAILING

	Venue	Portland & Weymouth, Dorset
	Dates	Saturday 1 September - Thursday 6 September
	Medal Events	3
	Athletes	80
	Irish Hopefuls	3-person keelboat (Sonar): John Twomey, Kinsale, Cork Anthony Heggarty, Mallon, Cork Ian Costello, Tulligmore, Kerry
	Irish Highlights	Beijing 2008: 3-person keelboat 9th place
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-sailing

SHOOTING

	Venue	The Royal Artillery Barracks
	Dates	Thursday 30 August - Tuesday 4 September
	Medal Events	12
	Athletes	140 (100 men, 40 women)
	Irish Hopefuls	Sean Baldwin, Newbridge, Kildare
	Irish Highlights	No previous appearance by Ireland at the Paralympic Games
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-shooting

SWIMMING

	Venue	Olympic Park - Aquatics Centre
	Dates	Thursday 30 August - Saturday 8 September
	Medal Events	148
	Athletes	600 (350 men, 250 women)
	Irish Hopefuls	Darragh McDonald, Gorey, Wexford Ellen Keane, Clontarf, Dublin James Scully, Rathoath, Meath Jonathan McGrath, Killaloe, Clare Bethany Firth, Downpatrick, Down Stephen Campbell, Cookstown, Tyrone Matthew Bell,Newtownards, Antrim James Hamilton, Ballyclare, Antrim Laurence McGivern, Rostrevor, Down Gina Lourens, Stellenbosch, South Africa
	Irish Highlights	Beijing 2008: Darragh McDonald S6 400m Freestyle Silver Medallist Berlin 2010 European Championships: Bethany Firth S14 100m Freestyle Silver Medallist Darragh McDonald S6 400m Freestyle Bronze Medallist
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-swimming

TABLE TENNIS

	Venue	ExCel - North Arena 1
	Dates	Thursday 30 August - Saturday 8 September
	Medal Events	29
	Athletes	276 (174 men, 102 women)
	Irish Hopefuls	Eimear Breathnach, Sallynoggin, Dublin Rena McCarron Rooney, Bearna, Galway
	Irish Highlights	US Open 2011: Eimear Breathnach TT1/2 Gold Medal Rena McCarron TT1/2 Silver Medal
	More Sport Info	http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-table-tennis

2012 Irish Paralympic Team Sponsors:

Renault Ireland

OCS One Complete Solution

Cadbury

Allianz Ireland

Vodafone

2012 Irish Paralympic Team Partners:

Irish Sports Council

Irish Institute of Sport

Sport Northern Ireland

Sports Institute Northern Ireland

2012 Irish Team Official Partners:

O’Neills Sportswear

Webfactory

Expd8

Bewleys & Moran Hotel Group

McInerney Saunders

Waterford Institute of Technology

Pembroke Communications

SNAP Drogheda

About Paralympics Ireland

Paralympics 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 is responsible for 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.  Athletes compete in various classes of competition, and are classified according to their disability.

The Paralympic movement has grown dramatically since its inception. 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.

INFO SOURCE - Paralympics Ireland

Starting on Saturday 24th September 2011, 20 Irish men and women will spend 6 days cycling from Paris to Nice. We aim to raise over €250,000 for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Terry Ferris and his team of riders from Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club are riding to raise funds for three charities: Special Olympics  Europe/Eurasia, Special Olympics Clubs in Ireland and Cerebral Palsy Sports Ireland. The proceeds will be split evenly between the 3 charities.

If you’d like to find out more information and to donate to the riders participating from Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, please log on to their dedicated website www.paris2nice.com

Here you will be able to donate directly to the riders fund and also get regular updates from the riders.

It is funded by UK Sport, Sport Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and Newtownabbey Borough Council, and 500 athletes, coaches and officials will be there to take part in the event, which is expected to generate in excess of £1 million ($1.63 million/€1.14 million) for the local economy.

Tickets are available for first and second sessions for the competition, and will be free of charge, allocated to individuals and groups by Disability Sports NI on a first come, first served system.

The aim of Boccia is to get your balls closer to the white jack than your opponent.

It requires precision and strategic thought and is one of the fastest growing games in Paralympic Sport, taking place in more than 50 countries, officials claim.

Competitors can earn crucial ranking points at the event to enable them to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympics.

Kevin O’Neill, Director of Disability Sports NI, said: “The event will be a great spectacle and the fact it is being hosted in Northern Ireland will undoubtedly help raise public awareness of disability sport.

“Over the last ten years, we have worked hard at developing the sport of Boccia in Northern Ireland and as a result the sport is now widely played at a recreational level throughout the country by people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.

“However the next stage is to develop a squad system and performance pathway for young people who show some talent in the sport, and we are confident we can achieve this as a direct legacy of the Boccia World Cup.”

Tickets can be booked through Disability Sports NI at 028 9038 7062 and textphone 028 9038 7064.

INFO Source: Inside World Parasport - http://www.insideworldparasport.biz

david.gold@insideworldparasport.biz

Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland

National Boccia League Final

Ballinteer Community School

19^th July 2010

The CPSI National Boccia League final will take place on Tuesday the 19th of July 2011 in Ballinteer Community School.

This is the 5^th National league Final which will see 6 teams battle it out for the top place in the country. In early March 24 teams started in the league with teams representing both their towns and counties.   The six remaining teams are now representing their county and province.  This is a hugely important event for all the teams as it marks months of hard work and training.

The day promises to be action packed with 2 pools of teams playing each other to progress to the final play offs.  The teams in competition are the current title holders the Sandyford Steamers, Sligo Town Boccia A, Sligo Town Boccia C, IWA Offaly, Enable Ireland Limerick and New Comers to the League IWA Limerick.

Matches will start at 11am and the day will run until approximately 4pm.

Spectators and supporters are very welcome to come to the event.

The very best of luck to all Teams participating.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact Brenda O’Donnell in Cerebral Palsy Sport office on 01 6251160.

The show itself will see two teams of famous sports stars and pundits go head to head in an entertaining sports quiz. The show will consist of 8 episodes and will be filmed at RTE Studio’s in Donnybook, Dublin 4 from 8th-11th August 2011 in front of an audience each day. For this, RTE are looking to get sports teams, clubs and supporters on board from around the Country to join the audience for each episode.

The clubs will give their representation by wearing their club colours, kit or sporting attire. Clubs can bring along 5-50 clubs members to be audience members for the show. As the show is being filmed in August RTE would like to hear from sports clubs who would be interested in attending as soon as possible.

For further information please contact Sharon Newman on sharon.newman@shinawil.com or 01 208 4646.

Bethany Firth claimed the Irish Paralympic Swim Team’s second medal at the IPC Swimming European Championships when she took Silver in the S14 100m Backstroke in Berlin today.

Firth was just a second and a half behind the winner Marlo van der Kulk of the Netherlands and .06 ahead of Great Britain’s Natalie Massey who took bronze.  Van der Kulk’s winning time was 1.09.96, Firth secured her Silver medal with 1.11.43 while Massey completed the podium trio with a time of 1.11.49.

Firth has banished her disappointment of finishing fourth in Monday’s S14 200 Freestyle final where both Van der Kulk and Massey both medalled.  Firth’s silver medal is added to the bronze secured by Darragh McDonald in the S6 400m Freestyle earlier in the week.

Dave Malone, Head of Paralympic Swimming, commented, “Top performances from our athletes in the pool tonight.  Bethany competing at her first major championships pulled out an amazing swim to finish in silver medal position in the women’s s14 100m backstroke, this performance is even more remarkable as Bethany is only 15 years of age and has certainly rattled the cages of Europe’s elite here in Berlin. James Scully pulled off a fantastic swim to finish in 5th place in the men’s S5 200m individual medley knocking 8 secs off his previous lifetime best time.”

After her medal winning performance Bethany Firth commented, “I was so happy with my swim tonight, I just wanted to swim well and to win a silver medal at European championships is a dream come true.”

Elsewhere Matthew Bell swam a lifetime best of 1.14.43 in the heat of the S14 100m Backstroke to qualify for the final.  Bell clocked a consistent time of 1.14.76 in the final which left him in eight place overall.

Competition continues at the Swimming and Diving Center in Europasportpark.

Collated Results:
Men’s S14 100m Backstroke; (1) Marc Evers (NED) (8) Matthew  Bell 1.14.76 , (11) James Hamilton 1.17.25; Men’s S9 50m Freestyle; (1) Tamas Toth (HUN) 26.08 (18) Laurence McGivern 29.31;  Men’s SM5 200m Ind Medley; (1) Ricardo Ten (ESP) 3.30.80 (5) James Scully 3.45.10;  Women’s S14 100m Backstroke;  (1)Marlo van der Kulk (NED) 1.09.96 (2)Bethany Firth 1.11.43 (3) Natalie Massey (GBR) 1.11.49; Women’s S9 50m Freestyle; (1) Sarai Gascon (ESP) 29.28 (10) Ellen Keane 32.31;

INFO SOURCE: Paralympics Ireland
For further information contact:

John Fulham, Communications Officer, Paralympics Ireland
T:         087 270 9182
E:         communications@paralympics.ie

David O’Síocháin, Pembroke Communications
T:         087 936 2440
E:         david@pembrokecomms.ie

Ireland’s Darragh McDonald secured a bronze medal this evening at the IPC European Swimming Championships, Berlin in the 400m Freestyle event (Class S6). The Silver Medallist from the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games finished strongly in a closely fought battle to take third place with a time of 5.15.02, out touching his German rival Iwanov by .05seconds. The race was won by McDonald’s old nemesis Anders Olsson in a time of 4.58.17 with Yevhe Bohadayko from the Ukraine in second place with a time of 5.09.72.

McDonald, who took silver in this event two years ago in Reykjavik stated after the event,

“It was great to once again be in the medals at a major international meet, I am delighted with this performance.”

Also in action at this evenings session, Dublin’s, Ellen Keane finished 6th tonight in the final of the women’s s9 100m freestyle in a new lifetime best time of 1.07.82. The race was won by Spain’s Sarai Gascon in a time of 1.03.53. Speaking after the event, Keane stated

“I was pleased to swim 2 new personal best times today and swim faster in tonight’s final; it has been a great start to the championships for me”

Stephen Campbell, from Tyrone, finished in 6th place in the final of the 100m backstroke (S11Class) in a time of 1.17.85 outside his own personal best. The race was won by the Ukraine’s Viktor Smyrnov in a time of 1.09.24.

Laurence McGivern finished in 7th place in his heat in this morning’s heats of the men’s 100m freestyle (S9 Class) in a time of 1.03.53; this unfortunately was not fast enough to qualify for the final.

Speaking from Berlin, High Performance Director of Paralympic Swimming, Dave Malone said: “It was a great start to the European Championships to have 3 swimmers qualify for tonight’s finals. Darragh produced a superb swim in a thrilling race to capture bronze in the men’s s6 400m freestyle. It was great to see Darragh once again on a podium for Ireland and an extremely positive start to the championships for the Irish swim team.”

Competition continues at the Swimming and Diving Center in Europasportpark.

INFO SOURCE: Paralympics Ireland

For further information contact:
John Fulham, Communications Officer, Paralympics Ireland
T:         087 270 9182
E:         communications@pcireland.ie

David O’Síocháin, Pembroke Communications
T:         087 936 2440
E:         david@pembrokecomms.ie

Ireland kicked-off their World Championship campaign against 3^rd ranked Iran. The match started off promising with Ireland keeping good shape, communication and providing good movement.

An early free kick provided Ireland with a chance to take the lead through clever movement and anticipation. A hard free kick put in by Gary Messett saw the Iranian goalkeeper fumble the ball with two Irish players bearing down on goal. Finbarr O’Riordan had the final shot with an amazing second save being made from the goalkeeper.

Iran could have gone one up themselves only moments later when a clever ball was played through the Ireland defense into the path of the on-running striker, but thanks to superb goal keeping from Brian McGillivary the score line remained nil-nil.

It was 1-0 to Iran on the 19^th minute, which through an amount of luck, from a bad first touch the ball snuck into the bottom right hand corner.

Ten minutes later the score line had doubled with a ball being moved across the edge of the Irish box before the Iranian winger cut back inside and hit a left footed shot past McGillivary. The Iranian’s had a few more chances just before half time, but could not convert any.

Two minutes into the second half McGillivary was called into action again when a counter-attack finished in a one-on-one with the keeper coming out on top.

Unfortunately, two minutes later Iran were three goals to the good with an initial shot from the edge of the box being blocked by Joe Markey, however McGillivary was left on the floor anticipating the first shot. The Iranian got hold of the ball and slotted it between two players into the net.

Ireland scored in the 44^th minute of the match with an amazing through ball from the young Eric O’Flaherty, which had the keeper in two minds as to whether to come or stay. He decided to do both and ended up in no-mans land leaving Moran with a difficult tight angle to scored from, but with a cool head he slotted it home.

Luke Evans came close to grabbing a second two minutes later with a shot from long range. A long ball forward allowed Jason Moran to lay the ball into Evans path from which he hit a strong in-step pass long towards the bottom left hand corner of the goal, in-turn producing a great save by the goalkeeper.

Ireland were pressing hard now to get a vital second goal. A cross from the left of the area landed to O’Flaherty, with a difficult height on the ball his shot was hit straight at the keeper.

A moment of madness saw Jason Moran see red due to a tackle from behind with the player bearing down on goal.

Ireland’s fight and determination were shown in the last 10 minutes, but unfortunately the comeback was not to be.

Following the game, Team Manager, Paul Cassin remained optimistic “The lads are disappointed that they didn’t really do themselves justice in the first half but in the second half we played a lot better creating chances and scored a great goal. Playing with six men didn’t help but we have two more games to play to try and qualify for the quarter finals.

INFO Source - Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland - David Taylor

The teams that participated yesterday were:

Cork Boccia Club,

Wheels in Motion

Enable Ireland Clare

IWA Limerick

Well done to everyone who participated in yesterdays matches, there were some very tight scoring  and some tightly fought ends in some of the matches.

Congratulations to the IWA Limerick a new team to the League who are through to the last day of the League. IWA Limerick now join Sandyford Steamers and IWA Offaly through to the final day. 2 more dates are to be played, one in Sligo and one in Limerick which will see the remaining 3 teams selected for the final.

Dates and a venue have yet to be decided for the Final.

Brenda O’Donnell CPSI @ 01 6251160 or brenda.hopkins@cpsi.ie

or

Nicky Hamill IWA SPort @ 01 8186422 or nhamill@iwa.ie