DRIVING SUCCESS TOWARDS LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES
The Paralympic Council of Ireland (PCI) today announced Renault Ireland as official title sponsor of the 2012 Irish Paralympic Team at a press event in Dublin’s Mansion House. In a major development for Irish Paralympic Sport, Renault Ireland has become the first major financial investor from the private sector in the organisation’s history.
The historic partnership agreement sees Renault Ireland becoming title sponsor of the Renault Ireland Team 2012 Training Camps programme. The programme consists of a total of six domestic camps will take place in the build-up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Operating out of Limerick, the Renault Ireland Camps will act as the catalyst in building the Irish Team to compete at the second biggest sporting event in the world; the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The camps are run over four days each time and provide a unique environment and opportunity for athletes and support staff across all the sports to come together and solidify the unrivalled spirit that exists within this Irish team. The camps include a series of timetabled training sessions and group information and workshop sessions on various aspects related to the London Games. A high profile guest speaker usually addresses the entire camp and all the PCI support services such as physiotherapy, massage, video analysis, sports science, and sports psychology are available to the sports around the clock.
Announcing the partnership agreement, PCI Chief Executive Officer, Liam Harbison stated: “We are delighted to have a major, ambitious and successful organisation such as Renault Ireland partner the Irish Paralympic Team for what is effectively a home Games in London. Our vision for the partnership is ‘Driving Success’ with the aim of assisting our Paralympic athletes achieve optimum success for Ireland on the global stage.”
Eric Basset, Renault Ireland Managing Director, said the company is very proud to be associated with the PCI and their quest towards London 2012:
“The team at Renault Ireland is right behind the Irish Paralympic Team for the 2012 Paralympic Games and we are delighted to support, and be involved with such a fantastic organisation. Beijing in 2008 was an outstanding success for Ireland’s Paralympians and we are very proud to be able to assist and support them in driving success for 2012”.
The Irish Team is driving for success at the London Games and aiming to improve on the outstanding success of the tally of five medals (including three gold medals) at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. The PCI’s ambitious and detailed London plan has been implemented in full to date with many programmes currently ongoing to support the Irish team’s development.
Such a programme which worked very well in the Beijing cycle was the team familiarisation camp. In August 2012 the Irish Paralympic team will hold their Pre-Paralympic Games holding camp at their chosen base in Portugal. In order to familiarise all the athletes and support staff with the facilities and environment of this Pre-Games holding camp the PCI will hold their Familiarisation Camp next Summer 2011 in Portugal, exactly a year in advance of the holding camp.
The PCI has also initiated a Team Manager Leadership Development Programme, and their London Strategy Group is working to develop the local environment strategy for the Games. Over the coming period the PCI will also begin their family and supporter liaison programme for the Games.
For further information contact:
In relation to PCI - John Fulham, PCI Communications Officer, 087-270918 communications@pcireland.ie
In relation to Renault - Roisin O’Hea, O’Hea PR, 086-2430839 roisin@oheapr.com
Also visit http://www.pcireland.ie/ www.facebook.com/pcireland and http://www.london2012.com/
Additional Information:
Key events timeline prior to London 2012 Paralympic Games
Present – June 2012: Paralympic Games Qualification ongoing
June 2010: Appointment of PCI Sports Science and Medical Team
Nov 2010: Second Renault Ireland Team 2012 Camp
Dec 2010: Appointment of Team Managers for London 2012
Apr & Nov 2011: Renault Ireland Team 2012 Training Camps
August 2011: PCI’s Pre-Games Familiarisation Camp, Portugal
Apr & July 2012: Renault Ireland Team 2012 Training Camps
June 2012 – 2012: Irish Paralympic Team Official Announcement
Aug 2012: Irish Team Pre-Games Holding Camp, Portugal
Aug. 29th - Sept. 9th 2012: London 2012 Paralympic Games
Significant Irish Performances since Beijing Paralympics
Athletics:
Jason Smyth - Double Paralympic World Cup Champion, Manchester, May 2010 & qualified for the 2010 IAAF European Championships in Barcelona.
Boccia:
BC3 Pair of John Cronin, Steven Valentine & Gerard O’Grady – Silver medallists at the 2009 European Boccia Championships, Portugal.
Cycling:
Women’s Tandem of Catherine Walsh & Caroline Ryan – Silver Medallists at the 2009 UCI Para-Cycling World Track Championships in Manchester.
Football:
Ranked 5th in the world following the 2009 CP-ISRA International Championships.
(Runners Up at the 2010 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester)
Swimming:
Darragh McDonald – Double silver medallist at the 2009 IPC Swimming European Championships in Iceland.
The Paralympic Council of 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 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 elite sport events for athletes with physical disabilities or visual impairment. The Games emphasise the participants’ athletic achievements rather than their disability. Athletes compete in various classes of competition, and are classified according to their disability.
The movement has grown dramatically since its first days. 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.
Website: http://www.pcireland.ie/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pcireland
YouTube: www.youtube.com/paralympiccouncil
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pcireland
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