Paralympics Ireland has launched a new fundraising campaign to help Irish para-athletes reach the next level.
Paralympics Ireland president, John Fulham, is calling on the public to support current and future Irish para-athletes to help them to reach the next level of their sport.
The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games has had a big impact on Paralympics Ireland, with additional costs of the postponement and Covid-19 estimated to rise to as much as €500,000.
Paralympic sport internationally has made huge progress in recent years, with athletes enjoying a greater level of support in terms of finances and resources than at any other stage in the past.
Competing against such rising standards globally is becoming increasingly difficult for Irish para-athletes.
Paralympics Ireland is asking the Irish public to help bridge that gap by supporting its athletes and donating to the campaign via https://paralympics.ie/.
Funds raised will be used to help remedy immediate costs, but the campaign also has the long-term focus of raising funds to help Team Ireland compete with the best in the world – not just in Tokyo, but also in Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.
All funds raised will go towards increasing the levels of support that athletes receive. Those supports will be provided directly through provision of sports science and medical services, training camps or competitive opportunities, or indirectly through the provision of programmes and initiatives designed to bring through the next generation of Irish Paralympians.
You can watch the launch videos for the campaign here: