A guide to IWA’s connection to the Paralympic Games

Since the first Games in 1960, IWA has had a strong involvement on each Irish Paralympic Team and this is also the case for the Paris 2024 Games. Here is some general information about the Games from an Irish and IWA perspective.

Firstly, we would like to wish Team Ireland and particularly the IWA athletes and support staff the very best of luck at the Games.

Team Ireland

• Team Ireland has 35 athletes competing in the Para Sports of Athletics, Archery, Equestrian, Swimming, Powerlifting, Rowing, Triathlon, Table Tennis and Cycling.
• 9 athletes are IWA members;
• Para Swimming, Ellen Keane (Dublin) and Nicole Turner (Laois)
• Para Athletics, Mary Fitzgerald (Kilkenny) and Shauna Bocquet (Galway)
• Para Archery, Kerrie Leonard (Meath)
• Para Table Tennis, Colin Judge (Dublin)
• Para Powerlifting, Britney Arendse, (Cavan)
• Para Rowing, Katie O’Brien (Galway), Tiarnán O’Donnell (Limerick)
• All of the IWA athletes involved have competed at home and abroad with great distinction representing Ireland and IWA-Sport for many years. These events include, the Para Athletics grand prix, National Swimming Championships, Para Table Tennis competitions, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Basketball competitions. Various International Games, European and World Championships.
• Its also important to acknowledge the role that many IWA-Sport Volunteers have played supporting the athletes for many years, some of whom have also travelled to Paris including John McCarthy, Coach to Mary Fitzgerald, Jim Conroy coach to Kerrie Leonard, Mick Cunningham Coach to Colin Judge, Roy Guerin and Denver Arendse Coaches to Britney Arendse, and we’re sure there have been many more.

A number of IWA Members will also feature as RTE panellists for the duration of the Games including; Joanne O’Riordan, Paralympians James Scully and Niamh McCarthy.

RTÉ are set to provide record coverage of the Paralympic Games, while the International Paralympic Committee have teamed up with YouTube to ensure it’s the most accessible Games to date!

For an up-to-date schedule, reports on the action and results of our IWA members, then be sure to head to our page dedicated to the Paralympic Games.

You can also follow and share your support for Team Ireland with us on our social media channels:

• Facebook: IWA-Sport
• Twitter/X: @IWASport
• Instagram: @iwa_sport