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 29th August 2012 range from £20 - £500 while tickets for the Closing Ceremony on the 9th 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
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Venue
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The Royal Artillery Barracks
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Dates
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Thursday 30 August – Wednesday 5 September
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Medal Events
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9
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Athletes
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140 (88 men, 52 women)
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Irish Hopefuls
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Barry Guider, Rathmines, Dublin
Jody O’Neill, Ardee, Louth
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Irish Highlights
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Beijing 2008:
Sean Heary, Quarter-finalist
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-archery
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ATHLETICS
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Venue
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Olympic Park - Olympic Stadium
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Dates
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Friday 31 August – Sunday 9 September
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Medal Events
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170
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Athletes
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1,100 (740 men, 360 women)
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Irish Hopefuls
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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
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Irish Highlights
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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
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-athletics
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BOCCIA
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Venue
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ExCel – South Arena 1
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Dates
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Sunday 2 September – Saturday 8 September
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Medal Events
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7
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Athletes
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104
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Irish Hopefuls
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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
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Irish Highlights
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Beijing 2008:
Gabriel Shelly BC1 Individual Bronze Medallist
Sydney 2000:
Gabriel Shelly BC1 Individual Gold Medallist
John Cronin & Margaret Grant BC3 Pair Gold Medallists
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/boccia
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CYCLING – ROAD
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Venue
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Brands Hatch
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Dates
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Wednesday 5 September – Saturday 8 September
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Medal Events
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32
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Athletes
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225 (155 men, 70 women) across road & track
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Irish Hopefuls
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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
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Irish Highlights
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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
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-cycling-road
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CYCLING – TRACK
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Venue
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Olympic Park - Velodrome
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Dates
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Thursday 30 August – Sunday 2 September
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Medal Events
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18
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Athletes
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225 (155 men, 70 women) across road & track
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Irish Hopefuls
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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
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Irish Highlights
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Italy 2011:
Catherine Walsh & Francine Meehan World Track Pursuit Bronze Medallists
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-cycling-track
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EQUESTRIAN
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Venue
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Greenwich Park
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Dates
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Thursday 30 August – Tuesday 4 September
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Medal Events
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11
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Athletes
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78
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Irish Hopefuls
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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,
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Irish Highlights
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Beijing 2008:
Eilish Byrne Grade III 8th place
Kentucky 2010 World Equestrian Games:
James Dywer Grade IV 5th place
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-equestrian
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ROWING
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Venue
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Eton Dorney
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Dates
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Friday 31 August – Sunday 2 September
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Medal Events
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4
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Athletes
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96 (48 men, 48 women)
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Irish Hopefuls
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LTAMix4+:
Kevin DuToit, London & South Africa
Sarah Caffrey, Clonlara, Clare
Shane Ryan, Ballybricken, Limerick
Anne Marie McDaid, Ramelton, Donegal
Helen Arbuthnot, Christchurch, Dorset, England
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Irish Highlights
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No previous appearance by Ireland at the Paralympic Games
New Zealand 2010:
Ireland 5th place at FISA World Championships
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-rowing
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SAILING
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Venue
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Portland & Weymouth, Dorset
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Dates
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Saturday 1 September – Thursday 6 September
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Medal Events
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3
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Athletes
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80
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Irish Hopefuls
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3-person keelboat (Sonar):
John Twomey, Kinsale, Cork
Anthony Heggarty, Mallon, Cork
Ian Costello, Tulligmore, Kerry
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Irish Highlights
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Beijing 2008:
3-person keelboat 9th place
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-sailing
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SHOOTING
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Venue
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The Royal Artillery Barracks
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Dates
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Thursday 30 August – Tuesday 4 September
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Medal Events
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12
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Athletes
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140 (100 men, 40 women)
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Irish Hopefuls
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Sean Baldwin, Newbridge, Kildare
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Irish Highlights
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No previous appearance by Ireland at the Paralympic Games
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-shooting
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SWIMMING
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Venue
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Olympic Park – Aquatics Centre
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Dates
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Thursday 30 August – Saturday 8 September
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Medal Events
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148
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Athletes
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600 (350 men, 250 women)
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Irish Hopefuls
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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
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Irish Highlights
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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
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-swimming
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TABLE TENNIS
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Venue
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ExCel – North Arena 1
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Dates
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Thursday 30 August – Saturday 8 September
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Medal Events
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29
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Athletes
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276 (174 men, 102 women)
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Irish Hopefuls
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Eimear Breathnach, Sallynoggin, Dublin
Rena McCarron Rooney, Bearna, Galway
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Irish Highlights
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US Open 2011:
Eimear Breathnach TT1/2 Gold Medal
Rena McCarron TT1/2 Silver Medal
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More Sport Info
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http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-table-tennis
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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.
David O'Síocháin
Account Director
Pembroke Communications
16 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2
E: david@pembrokecomms.ie
T: 01 649 6322
M: 087 936 2440
B: irishmediawatch.com
Winner of four 2011 PRCA Awards for Excellence
Winner of a 2011 Social Media Award
Official Communications Partner to Paralympics Ireland