The Irish team for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing was officially announced by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Mr Martin Cullen TD at an event in Dublin on Wednesday.
45 elite athletes across nine sports will represent Ireland at the Beijing Games which get underway on 6 September, and run for 12 days.
The Paralympic Games are elite Olympic style sports events for elite athletes with physical disabilities, or visual impairment, emphasising athletic achievement rather than disability.
Approximately 4000 athletes, from over 153 countries across 20 sports will compete at the Beijing Games. Athletes compete in various classes of competition and are classified according to their disability.
Making the announcement Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Mr Martin Cullen TD said: 'I would like to congratulate the 45 athletes on their selection for the Games.
'Very few of us get the opportunity to represent our country on the International stage; it’s a tremendous honour that the athletes, their families and friends should be very proud of. I have no doubt that they will be great ambassadors for our country.'
The Irish team comprises 10 track and field athletes, four cyclists (with two sighted pilot riders), one Archer, four Boccia players (a form of bowls for athletes with severe physical disabilities), a team of 12 footballers, six swimmers, five sailors, two Table Tennis players, and one Dressage rider.
The team for the Games includes three of Ireland’s medalists from the Athens Games; field athlete John McCarthy who won silver in the Greek capital, swimmer Dave Malone who claimed silver at the last Games and Derek Malone who claimed bronze on the track. Malone has since retired from Athletics and will line out for the football team in Beijing.
Double world champion and world record holder in 100m and 200m, Jason Smyth from Derry is also named in the team.
The team also boasts another world champion and world record holder in the 800m; teenager Michael McKillop.
The seven-a-side football team, who recently played an exhibition game in Austria before the final Euro 2008 quarter-final occupies 12 of the 45 places on the team. Several of the 45 strong team are competing in their first Games.
It is the biggest Irish team since the Atlanta Games in 1996. The increase in team size represents a significant achievement by the Paralympic Council of Ireland (PCI).
It is in contrast to that of other western nations who are facing reductions in team size as a result of the escalating number of nations competing at the Games, leaving qualification places at a premium.
Speaking at the event Chef de Mission Jimmy Byrne said: 'At a time when qualification is harder than ever before and most other western nations are seeing their teams diminish in size to have our biggest team since Atlanta is incredible. Huge credit is due to the PCI for their team building strategy.'
Ossie Kilkenny, Chairperson of the Irish Sports Council who spoke at the event added: 'When this Irish team marches into the Olympic Stadium on 6 September it will mark the final step on a long road, the culmination of years of effort, sacrifice, training and preparation. Huge credit must go to the coaches, support staff, many volunteers and the Paralympic Council of Ireland for bringing the team to this point.'
