With less than two weeks to go until Allianz NextGen, Paralympics Ireland is encouraging young people with a disability, and their families, to visit the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on Sunday, 30 November, for a welcoming, hands-on introduction to Para sport.
Running from 12 noon until 3 pm, the event will offer attendees the chance to try a range of activities, meet experienced coaches, and hear directly from one of Ireland’s most inspiring athletes.
This year’s edition will be led by World Para Athletics champion Greta Streimikyte, whose recent gold medal at the World Championships has cemented her place among the sport’s elite.
Her presence adds what organisers describe as an athlete-led dimension, bringing her competitive experience, personal story, and lived insight into what it means to build confidence and find belonging in Para sport.
Streimikyte said events like Allianz NextGen matter because many young people with a disability still don’t know where, or how, to take their first step into sport.
“I would encourage people of all ages to get involved with Allianz NextGen,” she said.
“It can be a bit intimidating as a person with a disability to know how to get involved in sport, but it isn’t until you come to an event like this that you see the opportunities that are available in sports you may never have considered.”
“Sport has made such an incredible difference to my life, and I’m so delighted to encourage the next generation to get involved.”
Her message is backed by research. Paralympics Ireland’s Gateways & Pathways report, produced with the University of Limerick, found that girls with disabilities begin participating in sport almost a decade later than boys, with many facing additional barriers to access and information.
Allianz NextGen aims to close that gap by creating environments where young people can try new activities, meet role models, and begin to see sport as a place where they belong.
For Streimikyte, that sense of belonging was formed slowly. Speaking with Sport for Business at the Sport Ireland Campus, she reflected on her own journey, one shaped by a late introduction to Para sport and the persistence required to reach the world stage.
“It took me nine years to get my first World Championship medal.”
“There were moments where I questioned if it would ever happen,” she told us.
“But even when you question yourself, you keep showing up to every training session, every championship. It was a relief and a reminder that sometimes you have to wait long enough for it to happen.”
She also offered rare insight into how she navigates the tactical demands of the 1500m while racing as a visually impaired athlete, most notably by using the sound of the bell to judge her position relative to competitors.
“When the bell rings for the last lap, I listen for when the second athlete reaches the bell. In the World Championships I could hear the bell again when I was already 150 metres ahead, so that’s how I knew where they were. The bell is how I judge it.”
She added that race tactics vary, but the bell remains an essential guide. “Different races bring different circumstances, but using the bell helps me understand the gap and make decisions in the moment,” she said.
She also noted how changes in coaching, injuries, and the mental side of sport have shaped her development.
Streimikyte, who has studied psychology, said understanding the mental dimension of high performance has become essential to her growth.
“For years I thought I could push through anything on my own,” she said. “But sports psychology opened my mind. There are so many tools—visualisation, self-talk, understanding your readiness for different races. Athletes are often their own worst critics. Having that support makes a big difference.”
Her own path into Para sport began through a PE teacher after moving to Ireland at age 15.
She emphasised how easily her talent might have gone unnoticed without that intervention – an experience that fuels her passion for initiatives like Allianz NextGen.
“Not every young person has someone who can guide them into Para sport,” she said.
“Events like this help parents, teachers, and young athletes understand what the sport is and what opportunities exist. If I had known earlier, maybe I would have started sooner.”
Allianz, long-time partner of Paralympics Ireland, sees the programme as a core part of its commitment to increasing participation among young people with disabilities.
“As the longest-standing supporter of Para sport in Ireland, Allianz is proud to have partnered with Paralympics Ireland since 2010,” said Mark Brennan, Head of Marketing at Allianz Ireland.
“Sponsoring an event such as Allianz NextGen perfectly aligns with our ‘Stop The Drop’ campaign, which tackles the critical issue of declining sports participation among young people.
“This programme inspires children to discover their para sporting potential and helps create a more inclusive future for sport.”
With demand growing every year, organisers expect another strong turnout for the 2025 edition.
Beyond introducing future athletes to Para sport, Streimikyte believes the event plays a wider, long-term role in shaping Ireland’s sporting landscape.
“We want to find talent, yes—but we also want longevity,” she said.
“Para athletes don’t appear overnight. It takes years of development, confidence, and support. Events like this are where that journey begins.”
Image Credit: Paralympics Ireland and Sam Barnes, Sportsfile
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
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