It's the opening day of the Paralympics in Paris as a 35-strong Team Ireland begin their quest for podium finishes in the City of Light.
The Irish contingent will be among the 4,400 athletes from 180 national Paralympic committees expected to compete, in addition to a Refugee Paralympic team and Neutral Paralympic athletes. The Games will run until Sunday, 8 September, with medals to be won in Para swimming and Para cycling (track) on the first day of competition.
The Le Defense Arena will see the first of the Irish competitors in action, with Dearbhaile Brady and Nicole Turner going in the heats of the S6 50m freestyle shortly after 10.00am and Róisín Ní Riain competing in her heat of the S13 100m butterfly from 10.30am. The finals in both events are scheduled from 6.17pm.
At the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome, Richael Timothy, in the C1-3 3000m women's individual pursuit, will begin her quest for a medal just before midday, while an hour later the B4 men's 4000m individual pursuit sees Damien Vereker, Mitchell McLaughlin, Martin Gordon and Eoin Mullen take to the track.
The other Irish competitor on the opening day is Kerrie Leonard, who goes in the W2 individual compound open of the Para archery.
THURSDAY 29 AUGUST
(In order of start time - Irish time)
Para swimming
9.47 am Dearbhaile Brady and Nicole Turner - heats of S6 50m freestyle (final from 6.17pm)
10.15 am Róisín Ní Riain - heat of S13 100m butterfly (final from 7.10pm)
Para cycling (track)
11.58am Richael Timothy - qualifying in C1-3 3000m women's individual pursuit (final from 3.29pm)
12.58pm Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin - qualifying in B4 men's 4000m individual pursuit (final from 4.04pm)
12.58pm Martin Gordon and Eoin Mullen - qualifying in B4 men's 4000m individual pursuit (final from 2.04pm)
Para archery
12pm Kerrie Leonard - ranking in W2 individual compound open
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