An exciting partnership was launched today when Paralympics Ireland unveiled CityJet as its official airline partner. 

London 2012 Paralympic Games

CityJet will fly the 2012 Irish Paralympic team and management before, during and after the London 2012 Paralympic Games. To mark the association, Paralympics Ireland’s logo now sits proudly on a CityJet aircraft (pictured above).

Location

CityJet’s core hub of London City Airport is ideal for the team and management as it offers the quickest way to reach all of the Olympic venues in east London. This proximity and the frequency of service (up to six flights daily) will also be key for the thousands of Irish fans expected to travel to London for the Paralympic Games

“Pride and enthusiasm”

CityJet CEO, Christine Ourmières flew in from France to take part in the aircraft-naming ceremony with swimmers Darragh McDonald and James Scully, plus CityJet’s Kieran Rice and Melissa Ruddy. Christine was thrilled with the partnership:

“As an Irish airline, we’re proud to be able to carry the official Paralympic team to the Games.”

“To show our pride and enthusiasm, we’ve dedicated one of our aircraft in their honour, and we hope that between now and the Games, all of our passengers will see, and join in support of the Irish team. We’re looking forward to cheering them on in September!”

Liam Harbison, Paralympics Ireland CEO acknowledged the backing of this key partnership:

“CityJet will provide vital support to the Irish Team and management at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”

“Huge numbers of Irish supporters are expected to travel to the Games and flying to London City will have them closest to the action in Olympic Park.”

For more information about flying from Dublin to London City with CityJet, please click here.

To mark 200 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has launched its new-look website and a Torch Relay competiton (see below for details).

www,paralympics.org

The site aims to be the world’s leading source of information about the Paralympic Movement, its athletes and its sports. You’ll find the latest news together with action images and footage of previous Paralympic Games.

Believe in Yourself

Allianz’s new ‘Believe in Yourself’ section, promotes its involvement with the Paralympic Movement via various short videos, information graphics, athlete interviews and a regular “Fact of the Week”. More insights can be found at www.paralympic.org/believeinyourself/ourheroes and top Irish Paralympic athlete, Orla Barry, features in the launch pages. 

Torch Relay Competition

To mark the launch of the site, the IPC is searching for five inspirational individuals to carry the London 2012 Paralympic Flame during an overnight Torch Relay on 28 and 29 August from Stoke Mandeville to the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

The competition can be accessed at www.paralympic.org/torchrelay and  the public has until 4pm GMT on Wednesday 29 February to nominate inviduals who merit the following award categories:

• Inspiring grassroots coach
• Inspiring family member
• Biggest inspiration
• Loyal supporter
• Future Paralympian

As well as participating in the Paralympic Torch Relay, the five selected torch bearers will also receive two tickets to the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony on 29 August.

Paralympian Torch Bearers

In addition, the IPC is also looking for ten Paralympians to act as Torch Bearers. Any athlete who has taken part in the Paralympic Games since 1960 is eligible to take part and further information can be found at www.paralympic.org/torchrelay.

Torch Lighting

The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will begin on Friday 24 August 2012 when the first Flame lighting event taking place in London. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, the greater Belfast area, Edinburgh and Cardiff will each host a Flame lighting moment and an evening Flame Festival.

On 28 August a special “Lighting of the Paralympic Flame” will be held in Stoke Mandeville, during which all four flames will be brought together for the onward trip to London.

The build-up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games has well and truly begun!

Irish spirit and determination shone on yesterday’s final day of competition in Carson L.A.  Catherine Walsh and pilot Fran Meehan added tandem sprint bronze to their gold three days ago in the 3km Tandem Pursuit.

Walsh and Meehan

In the morning’s qualification round, the pair set a new Irish record of 12.259 to leave them in fourth place and secure the last available place in the afternoon’s sprint finals.

The Irish girls were drawn against favourites GB in the first two heats. Catherine and Fran rode very shrewdly but the experience of the British duo shone through and they took both heats.  This result ensured a “best of 3″ series against Germany for the bronze medal.

The plan was to lead out and maintain pressure on the straights to prevent the Germans passing.  This worked well in the first heat and the Irish pair (pictured above) triumphed narrowly. Similar tactics were employed in the second heat and by the bell, the Irish pair had pulled away to win comfortably. 

Mens Tandem/Individual Sprints

The mens tandem pairing of Andrew Fitzgerald and Con Collis put in a good performance to record a time of 11.631. This left them in 17^th place.

Similarly, the team sprint squad of Colin Lynch, Enda Smyth and Cathal Miller finished just outside the top 10, taking 11^th place in a new Irish record time of 56.840.

Best ever World Track Championships

The unexpected bonus of a sprint medal crowned Ireland’s best ever Track World Championships. Ireland finished an impressive seventh in the medal tally out of 31 countries.

The tremendous performances by the squad will likely ensure that Ireland secures its target of at least six places for London 2012 (to be decided shortly). Many congratulations to the athletes, manager Denis Toomey, coaches and support staff – there’s a lot to look forward to!