The celebration of 15 medals at senior World Championships was the highlight of last night’s AGM of Paralympics Ireland.
Darragh McDonald (pictured) was one of eight podium finishes at the IPC Swimming World Championships, while Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop both repeated their London 2012 Double Gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon.
The Annual report though pulls no punches about issues that challenge its ability to continue the strong performance through to Rio 2016.
Bethany Firth’s switch to representing Team GB highlights a threat to any athlete competing under dual nationality and stresses the importance of maintaining the right high level of training support and development structures within Ireland.
The loss of classification events in which Ireland won Gold in London from the Rio programme was also highlighted as a danger arising from Ireland not being represented at as high a level as was desired within the international corridors of power.
This has though begun to be addresses and Ireland was a very successful host of the European Paralympic Committee General Assembly towards the end of last year.
In terms of financial performance, Paralympics Ireland produced a small surplus at year end, largely down to an increase in fundraising, donations and sponsorship. This is a fine performance in what would traditionally be seen as a ‘hangover’ year after the highs of London.
In sponsorship, the organisation enlisted fellow Sport for Business member Atomic Sport to create a ‘More than Sport’ proposition which is generating interest in a number of different sectors.
The programme was launched at last year’s Sport for Business 20/20 Showcase event where it won the award for ‘Best Sponsorship Proposition’ in a vote of the 20+ senior sponsorship and marketing professionals there.
The report states that the organisation is targeting completion of its portfolio of sponsors for Rio 2016 in the current year.
The approval of a new strategic plan for Parlaympic Sport in Ireland was also given last night. This will be launched at a Irish Paralympic Summit for member organisations later this month.
If you are involved in providing, sponsoring or supporting youth sport, you should join us for The Business of Youth Sport, taking place in Dublin on Thursday, June 12th.
The half day conference will cover three phases of primary school, teenage and post-primary age, and will explore how sport, education and business are tackling participation in sport among children.
Click here for more details.
