The Glengormley athlete ran 3:59.54 minutes in the 1500m at the Visa London Disability Athletics Challenge, smashing his previous best of 4:14.81.

“It’s nice to be here and breaking a world record. I’m happy to be the first male to do it in the stadium,” said McKIllop.

The current World and Paralympic T37 800m champion (pictured at Beijing 2008) was competing in the 80,000 seater Olympic Stadium for the first time and led home a field of T20 and T37 athletes..

“It was incredible and enjoyable and an experience I wanted to get out of my system,” added McKillop.

“It’s one of those things – you want to walk into a stadium for the Paralympic final without worrying or thinking ‘oh my god the stadium is huge’ or ‘the track is bigger’.

“It’s only a 400m track with lots of seats around it basically, so it’s similar to where I train which is also a 400m track. I’ve just got to get used to it.”

McKillop will start as overwhelming favourite for the 800m and 1500m T37 events at London 2012. Both events will be shown live on Setanta Ireland.

Irish Team lodge

The lodge will act as the Irish team base outside the official Paralympic venues and will offer a venue for athletes to meet and relax with fellow team members, as well as their families and friends.

Duncan House is handily situated on Stratford High Street, just opposite the Olympic Park where many of Ireland’s top Paralympians will be aiming for glory at the Games

Launch event

The announcement was made at a special event attended by Chef de Mission, Liam Harbison, performance director Nancy Chillingworth, UEL vice-chancellor Professor Patrick McGhee and Ireland’s Paralympic discus world champion Catherine O’Neill (pictured above, centre).

“With a huge number of supporters set to travel to London to support the Irish Team of 42 athletes, it’s important to have a facility close to Olympic Park to allow access by families and friends to athletes in a way that helps their performance at the Games,” said Harbison.

“After a lengthy search, we settled on Duncan House as the suitable venue, helped also by UEL’s eagerness to build Paralympic awareness amongst the large student population.”

Lodge services

The lodge will provide a number of services including Games updates, tickets, refreshments, priority supporter events and Paralympic merchandise.

It will be open daily from August 27 to September 7 and accessible by any individual accredited for London 2012, as well as by priority supporters who register directly with Paralympics Ireland.

“This is yet another important milestone in our journey to become the number one university for sport in London by 2015,” said McGhee.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Paralympics Ireland to our growing family of London 2012 partners.Duncan House is situated right in the middle of the Olympic community and will prove to be an ideal hospitality venue for Irish athletes and supporters alike.”

The partnership between Paralympics Ireland and UEL will also provide support and knowledge to students via Q&A forums, sports science workshops and student volunteer positions with the Irish Team.

Sport Northern Ireland

The project is supported by Sport Northern Ireland.

“We are delighted to support Paralympics Ireland with this important facility at London 2012, especially with a number of athletes on the Irish Team coming from Northern Ireland, including defending champions Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop,” said Sport Northern Ireland chief executive Eamonn McCartan.

“In addition to the Paralympics Ireland Training Camp in Antrim in June, Sport Northern Ireland is delighted that Paralympics Ireland are providing comprehensive support to all aspects of the athletes’ preparation and performance in London as they strive for success at the Games.”

The Irish Paralympic Team will be formally announced on June 28 in Dublin and will be followed by the first ever Paralympics Ireland Camp in Northern Ireland (June 28 to July 1)

(Picture: Malcolm McNally, Irish Post)

Setanta Sports Ireland has announced that it has secured the TV rights for live coverage of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Star Irish athletes Mark Rohan, Eimear Breathnach, Orla Barry, Padraic Moran and Darragh McDonald.took part in today’s launch at Irishtown stadium.

Live on Setanta freeview

For the first time in Ireland, the Paralympic Games will be broadcast live. Setanta Ireland will show footage on a ‘freeview’ basis – satellite coverage will be unencrypted so viewers in Sky homes can access the channel, whether they are a Setanta subscriber or not. 

Making the event available on ‘freeview’ will mean that nearly 1.3 million households will be able to view the action from London.

Momentous announcement

Liam Harbison, CEO of Paralympics Ireland, welcomed the support of Setanta Sports Ireland and Allianz Ireland.

“This is a momentous announcement for Irish Paralympic sport,” he said. “The Irish Team are on the cusp of great success at London 2012 and we’re thrilled that the support of Setanta and Allianz will allow the Irish public to view, admire and be inspired by the achievements of Ireland’s elite Paralympians. 

“Paralympic sport at the top level is exciting, gripping and ferociously competitive – we look forward to Setanta bringing this to Irish sports fans.”

Brendan Murphy CEO of Allianz Ireland added:

“By supporting Paralympics Ireland and Irish athletes, Allianz supports their quest for medals but also, through our association with Setanta, to drive awareness of the Paralympic movement and provide live, real time access to all that is achieved.”

Marketing Director of Setanta Sports Brian Quinn was delighted the broadcaster is able to open up the event to Irish viewers.

“I would like to pay tribute to Allianz for their support. They are not simply a sponsor of our coverage, they have played a far bigger role than that. Without them live Paralympics TV coverage would not be seen in Ireland.”

Looking forward to London

It was a magnificent day for everyone connected with Irish Paralympic sport.

With six reigning World or Paralympic champions aiming for gold at London 2012, Irish sports fans are guaranteed many more highlights this summer. 

Freight Support

DHL Global Forwarding, the cargo arm of the company, will provide full logistics support for the team’s participation at the Games this summer – moving over 100 pieces of team equipment from Dublin to the pre-Games training camp in Portugal and then on to London.

Experience and Expertise

“DHL Global Forwarding has the network infrastructure to ensure that everything gets to where it needs to be, when it needs to be there, to support our elite Paralympic athletes” said Maurice Meade, Managing Director, DHL Global Forwarding Ireland (see above).

“We are right behind the Irish team’s pursuit of success in London and the whole DHL team is thrilled to be involved”.

Liam Harbison, CEO of Paralympics Ireland, appreciated the valuable support of DHL Global Forwarding.

“There’s a significant logistical challenge involved in moving a huge amount of athlete equipment from Dublin to Portugal and then on to the Games.”

We’re delighted to have the backing of DHL’s expertise – we know that everything will arrive on time and in good order.”

Final squad announcement – 28 June

Ireland is targeting a team of around 40 athletes across 10 sports and has already secured 30 slots in athletics, boccia, cycling, equestrian, powerlifting, rowing, sailing, shooting and table tennis. The full team will be announced on 28 June.

The launch took place at St Pius BNS, Terenure and was attended by elite athletes Nadine Lattimore, Padraic Moran (pictured above), Anne-Marie McDaid and Ellen Keane.

Follow Your Star

The “Follow Your Star” programme for primary school students and teachers, provides a free online resource that allows users to learn more about the Paralympic movement and Paralympic sport in Ireland. 

The goal is to help establish positive perceptions of individuals with disabilities and to encourage support for the Irish Team at the upcoming London 2012 Paralympic Games and beyond.

Online resources

The dedicated website can be accessed free at www.followyourstar.ie. This offers multi-media lessons, lesson plans, and activities which aim to inspire children to strive to achieve their potential, as well as encouraging them to embody the Paralympic values of “Determination, Courage, Equality and Inspiration”.

3,400 primary schools will receive promotional literature on the campaign. Schools participating in the programme will be in with the chance of receiving visits from some of Ireland’s top Paralympic athletes after the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Support Irish Paralympic Sport

“This is a great new resource for Paralympics Ireland.” said Naomi O’Reilly, Programmes Manager for Paralympics Ireland

”We hope that it will inspire young people throughout Ireland to learn more about Paralympic Sport and support the Irish Team at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and onwards to Rio 2016 and beyond.”

Medal target

The official target for the 2012 Irish Paralympic Team is to win five medals in London, including three gold. The team are on track to achieve that with five current world champions across eight events likely to be included in the travelling Irish Team, announced on 28 June.  

Current Irish world champions, all of whom are at camp, include:

• Catherine Walsh/Fran Meehan (cycling – Track 3km pursuit)
• Mark Rohan (handcycling – Road Race & Time Trial)
• Colin Lynch (cycling – Track 4km Pursuit & Road Time Trial)
• Michael McKillop (athletics – 800m & 1500m)
• Catherine O’Neill (athletics – Discus)

Focus

Liam Harbison, Chef de Mission for the Irish Team, detects a distinct change of emphasis:

“With 138 days to go, and team selection due in June, the pressure is on the athletes to secure their place for London 2012.”

“The focus of this four-day camp is very much on enhancing all aspects of performance and to give the athletes every support to reach their potential.  As always, the welcome in Limerick has been top class and we look forward to our final visit in August before the Games.”

Westmeath’s World Handcycling Champion, Mark Rohan (pictured above) agreed:

“These camps are essential in our preparation as a team for London 2012. Moulding athletes from 10 sports into one team is a difficult task, but this should help to bring us success at the Games. The sports science and medical support is excellent and gives us all we need as athletes.”

Team announcement 

The Irish Paralympic Team will be formally announced on Thursday 28 June in Dublin, just before the start of the first ever Paralympics Ireland Training Camp held in Northern Ireland (28 June – 1 July).

World champion paracyclist, Catherine Walsh, was announced as a “Cadbury Athlete Ambassador” with Irish Olympic athletes, Paul Hession and Grainne Murphy. CEO Liam Harbison also starred in the launch at Dublin’s Royal Hibernian Academy on 27 March 2012

Catherine Walsh – brand ambassador

As part of the launch at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Cadbury also unveiled their “Cadbury Ambassador Athletes” for the Games. World champion paracyclist, Catherine Walsh (right) joined Irish Olympic athletes, Paul Hession and Grainne Murphy in promoting the group. All three spoke about their pride in representing Ireland in London and gave an insight into their preparation and training.

Cadbury will work closely with Catherine, Paul and Grainne over the coming months to raise the profile of all three athletes themselves. They’ll also look to drive public pride and support for all Irish Olympic and Paralympic athletes competing at the Games.

The Games – an Irish experience

Cadbury will also roll out a number of exciting initiatives over the coming weeks to enhance the Irish experience of the Games. These include their largest ever in-store promotion, ‘Unwrap Gold’ - giving the Irish public the chance to win hundreds of golden vouchers to the Games, hidden inside the wrappers of Cadbury Dairy Milk bars.

“Delighted and proud”

Speaking at the launch, Brian O’Sullivan, MD, Kraft Foods Ireland, said: “Cadbury, as one of Ireland’s best loved brands, is delighted and proud to launch this sponsorship.”

“As a company with a large Irish manufacturing base and heritage here we are fully behind each and every Irish athlete taking part in the Games and immensely proud to play a role in their journey to London 2012.”

Liam Harbison, CEO, Paralympics Ireland, added in turn: “We are delighted that Cadbury is partnering with the 2012 Irish Paralympic Team towards this Summer’s “home Games”.

“Their support is of huge help, not just to Paralympic athletes like Catherine Walsh who are targeting the podium in London, but also in building the greatest-ever public support for the team”

2012 and beyond

In addition to helping Irish Paralympic athletes prepare for London 2012, Cadbury will also play a key role in assisting our efforts to unearth Ireland’s Paralympians of the future.

We’ll announce details soon of our biggest-ever talent search event (taking place after the Games) and we’re thrilled that Cadbury will support such an exciting event.

Championship success

Irish Paracycling squad manager Denis Toomey explained that the team’s exploits at both the 2011 UCI World Paracycling Road Championships in Denmark and last month’s World Track Championships in Los Angeles, pushed Ireland to 11th place in the Combined Nations Ranking List and on to a record seven slots.

To put this in context, Ireland secured one cycling slot for the 2004 Games in Athens and four for the 2008 Games in Beijing. Speaking after the announcement, Paralympic Performance Director, Nancy Chillingworth was delighted:

“Paracycling is a perfect example of the “three-Games pathway” for Paralympic sport in Ireland.”

“At their first Games in Athens they qualified one bike and the target was Games experience. They then progressed to Beijing where they qualified four bikes and targeted finals. They are now at their third Games having qualified seven bikes and with three world champions across five events.”.

“This is a phenomenal progression and testament to both the calibre of elite athletes and support staff”.

Preparations for London 2012

The squad now face a busy five months in which they’ll look to maintain peak fitness up to the Games in August. 

They will base their track preparation at the Palma Arena Velodrome in Majorca which provided a huge boost to their preparations for last month’s Track World Championships.  The road preparation will revolve around the 2012 UCI Paracycling Road World Cup Series with races in Rome in May and Segovia , Spain in June. They will also compete in the National TT Championships in Clonmel.

The squad is well placed to bring back the first ever Irish cycling medals from the Games. We wish them luck!