Microsoft word - 11_08_29 1yr to go release.doc

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 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
Thursday 30 August – Wednesday 5 September Barry Guider, Rathmines, Dublin Jody O’Neill, Ardee, Louth Beijing 2008: Sean Heary, Quarter-finalist http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-archery
ATHLETICS
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 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 http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-athletics Sunday 2 September – Saturday 8 September 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 Beijing 2008: Gabriel Shelly BC1 Individual Bronze Medallist Sydney 2000: Gabriel Shelly BC1 Individual Gold Medallist John Cronin & Margaret Grant BC3 Pair Gold Medallists Wednesday 5 September – Saturday 8 September 225 (155 men, 70 women) across road & track 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 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 http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-cycling-road Thursday 30 August – Sunday 2 September 225 (155 men, 70 women) across road & track 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 Italy 2011: Catherine Walsh & Francine Meehan World Track Pursuit Bronze Medallists http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-cycling-track Thursday 30 August – Tuesday 4 September Helen Kearney, Dunlavin, Wicklow Breda Bernie, Shankill, Dublin Kate Kerr Horan, Kerry Kathryn Wheelock, England Angela Lyons, Blarney, Cork, Beijing 2008: Eilish Byrne Grade III 8th place Kentucky 2010 World Equestrian Games: James Dywer Grade IV 5th place http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-equestrian Kevin DuToit, London & South Africa Sarah Caffrey, Clonlara, Clare Anne Marie McDaid, Ramelton, Donegal Helen Arbuthnot, Christchurch, Dorset, England No previous appearance by Ireland at the Paralympic Games New Zealand 2010: Ireland 5th place at FISA World Championships http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-rowing Saturday 1 September – Thursday 6 September 3-person keelboat (Sonar): John Twomey, Kinsale, Cork Beijing 2008: 3-person keelboat 9th place http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-sailing Thursday 30 August – Tuesday 4 September No previous appearance by Ireland at the Paralympic Games http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-shooting

SWIMMING
Thursday 30 August – Saturday 8 September Darragh McDonald, Gorey, Wexford Ellen Keane, Clontarf, Dublin 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 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 http://www.london2012.com/paralympic-swimming Thursday 30 August – Saturday 8 September Eimear Breathnach, Sallynoggin, Dublin Rena McCarron Rooney, Bearna, Galway 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.

Source: http://www.ocsireland.ie/Documents/Paralympics%20Ireland%201%20Year%20To%20Go%20Media%20Release.pdf