Major budget cuts may have inflicted an unwelcome blow to the 2016 Rio Paralympics, but Team Ireland are on a mission to raise the profile of their sports by emulating their heroics in London 2012.
In a statement three weeks ago, the International Paralympic Committee said that "Rio 2016 Organising Committee’s budget to deliver the Paralympic Games is not at the level they originally committed to", and the Games begin under a cloud, with attendances capacities cut and some countries facing a struggle to get a team to Brazil.
Adam Parry, Irish powerchair team coach, fears the issues have negatively damaged the profile and progress of disability sport.
"I believe there's going to be a good chance of more medals than previously." - Adam Parry
"The news that came out in terms of some of the funding being shipped down to the Olympic Games instead of the Paralympic Games has caused major issues, a lot of headaches for a lot of teams that are involved," said Parry.
"Ethically, it's not a great position to be in. I think they really need to be concentrating on the Paralympic Games for the athletes that are there. It's almost in some ways added to the minority status that some people have for things like disabled athletes and disabled sports."
Powerchair athlete Patrick Flanagan echoed those sentiments, and shared his hope that new Irish sports stars will emerge in Rio.
"I think one of the biggest challenges facing Paralympics and disability sport in Ireland is that there isn't a great awareness of the sports or of the athletes," Flanagan argued.
A look at the challenges facing disability sports in Ireland and what sort of success we can expect in Rio #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/Ab8BWD36o9
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 6, 2016
"Beyond Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop and maybe a handful of others, we really don't know who our Paralympians are.
"I think that's something we really could do to change to raise their profile and highlight the importance of disability sport in Ireland, for people who may not reach Paralympic level but may look to participate in sport themselves in the future."
Parry expects Team Ireland to shine in Brazil though. They scooped eight golds, three silvers and five bronze medals four years ago, and Parry expects an even better return this month.
"I think they've got some real high hopes over there. The football team is over there this time, which should be a good opportunity for them.
"Some of the gold winners from London are competing again. Every country's Paralympic team wants to go better than the previous Olympics and I think there is a good opportunity for that to happen again. I believe there's going to be a good chance of more medals than previously."
