Best wishes to Ireland’s Paralympic Team

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers, extended their best wishes to the 29 athletes travelling to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo which start on August 24. The athletes will be competing across nine sports.

The ministers were speaking at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown at the send-off. In attendance also were Miriam Malone (CEO, Paralympics Ireland), Neasa Russell (Chef de Mission, Paralympics Ireland), Una May (Director of Participation and Ethics, Sport Ireland) and Lisa Clancy (Board Member, Paralympics Ireland). Representing the athletes travelling were Nicole Turner (Swimming) and Colin Judge (Table Tennis).

Minister Martin said: “Team Ireland is sending a fantastically talented team to the Paralympic Games and I am sure they will do themselves, their families, their communities and the whole country proud over the next few weeks.

"The pandemic has disrupted their preparations but they have shown wonderful determination to overcome those difficulties and now that they are bound for Tokyo I want every member of the team to know that they travel with the support and best wishes of everybody in Ireland. Enjoy the Games.”

Minister Chambers added: “I send my very best wishes to Ireland’s Paralympic Team. When Tokyo hosted the second ever Paralympic Games back in 1964, there were no Irish athletes in attendance, the only time that has ever happened. Happily, this time we are returning to Tokyo in force with a great team that I am sure will represent us with distinction and honour. Above all else, I would like to see everybody on the team enjoying the experience.

Even though these Paralympic Games are taking place in a very different environment because of the pandemic, the Games are still a fantastic opportunity for our parathletes to show-case their abilities on the world stage. We are with them all the way”.