Deaflympic Team Ireland's Announcement

Jul 18, 2013

At 1.30 on Wed 17^th of July, Minister of Transport, Sport and Tourism Michael Ring officiated the Deaflympic Team Ireland Announcement.

Minister. Ring said that it was: “A pleasure and an honour to be here [Deaf village Ireland].”

The Team Announcement took place in Deaf Village Ireland and had a great turn out, with representatives from Deaf organisations and sporting organisations attending, along with Joe Costello TD.

Members of Team Ireland, team officials, managers and coaches were also present.

DSI would also like to thank our sponsors, Paul W Tracey Solicitors and Bridge Interpreting for their generous support and for coming along today to cheer on the team.

Excitement was high, as the athletes near the date of departure. The Men’s football team will be flying out next Monday (22^nd of July), with the badminton players and Chef De Mission following them on Thursday (25^th of July).

To see some pictures from the announcement, follow the link below:

Deaf Sports Ireland Facebook Page

There will be 36 people travelling to Bulgaria for the 2013 Deaflympics, including team officials and Ireland will be represented in two sports: Football and Badminton.

Read More Here 

Allianz and Paralympics Ireland Renew Partnership for Rio 2016

Jul 17, 2013

Allianz Ireland has extended its official sponsorship of Paralympics Ireland and in so doing, it has became the first official sponsor to support the organisation towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Jason Smyth, Orla Barry and Darragh McDonald took time out from preparing for the IPC Athletics World Championships this weekend in Lyon and the Swimming World Championships in Montreal in August to be present at the announcement in Dublin.

The Allianz logo features on kit that will be worn by the 16 Paralympic athletes that will compete across both those world gatherings, the first major events since the transformational success of London 2012.

“Allianz are proud to renew its sponsorship of Paralympics Ireland as they embark on another Paralympic journey,” said Allianz CEO Brendan Murphy.  ”The success of the 2012 Irish Paralympic Team was testament to the huge dedication, determination and professionalism of the athletes and support staff who represented our country on the world stage. It is a privilege and an honour for Allianz to play a role on the road to Rio.”

Murphy was present in London when Darragh McDonald, a fellow Wexford native won his Gold medal and Paralympics Ireland CEO Liam Harbison recalled seeing Murphy as part of a group of Irish fans clapping and cheering each stroke and clearly delighting in the shared experience of being there for London.

Indeed, speaking to Damien O’Neill, Allianz Group Head of Marketing, the partnership clearly means more to the company than a logo on a shirt.

“Insurance is about being there when things go wrong and the inspiration we draw from being involved with athletes that have refused to be defined by their disability is something that is very special to the company and to all of those who work here.”

Allianz has an international partnership with the Paralympic movement but Ireland is one of the small number of countries where that has extended to national teams as well.

“It is fantastic that Allianz Ireland have renewed their association with Paralympics Ireland,” added Harbison who will host the European Paralympic Congress in Dublin in October.

“Their passionate support played a key role in publicising the success of Irish athletes at London 2012 and we look forward to developing our dynamic partnership.”

“Their sponsorship of Setanta Sports Coverage of the games brought the heroic success of our athletes into 1.6 million Irish homes and that was critical in making sure the achievement gained the recognition it deserved.”

Allianz will help to drive awareness of the Paralympians through a number of initiatives to be rolled out over the coming years.  Their other key sponsorships include the Allianz Leagues in Gaelic Games, the Cumman na mBunscoil movement in schools sport and the Allianz Business to Arts partnership.

Final word at the announcement went to Jason Smyth who said that “Allianz support is massive. It enables Paralympics Ireland to do what it does in enabling us to achieve what we can on a world stage for ourselves and for Ireland.”

Preparations begin for Rio 2016 at this summer’s IPC Athletics and Swimming World Championships. In the first major gatherings of international Paralympic athletes since the hugely successful London 2012 Paralympic Games, Irish medalists from both sports will look to be successful at these championships.

Read More Here (Sport For Business)

Read More Here (Paralympics Ireland)

British Cycling to rebrand 'Social Cycle Groups' scheme

Jul 12, 2013

British Cycling is looking to re-energise its Social Cycling Groups initiative by rebranding it and launching a new social media campaign to support it.

The online Social Cycling Groups scheme aims to improve grassroots participation by connecting cyclists to each other and enable them to create and join groups and rides in their own geographical areas. Launched in 2012, the social network has so far attracted around 19,000 people to sign up and British Cycling estimates that more then 2,500 bike rides have been organised using the website Go Sky Ride.

The Governing body has appointed marketing agency Ear to the Ground to devise the new brand and campaign for the service.

Ear to the Ground is currently undertaking a research project which will be used as a basis for a brand refresh and campaign that will be promoted across the major social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Website and so on.

One year on since the launch of British Cycling’s Social Network, Social Cycling Groups has helped thousands of cyclists across the UK to get out on their bikes. Over 19,000 people have joined the network, forming over 500 ride groups, creating and taking part in 2,500 social bike rides.

Now with the new website, they’ve changed a few things to make it easier for you to find people to ride with in your local area, can now message buddies directly to organise a bike ride, can create and join rides more quickly and easily and can get live updates on new rides, groups or buddies that are near you.

Emma Bates, British Cycling Social Cycling Officer, said that, ‘The new improvements make it even easier for people to chat online, organise rides and get out riding- which is what it’s all about!.’

They will also be sending out more regular updates to users to let them know whats happening on their profiles- including who wants to be your cycling buddy, and who’s invited you on a social next week.

In relation to Cycling Ireland, they created a new programme, Bike for Life, which makes cycling more accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender or ability. This new move see’s Cycling Ireland engage with both the casual cyclist and the more avid peddler. It was launched on the 10th June 2013 and is a 10 week programme that hopefully will turn into a permanent thing.

The focus of the 10 week programme is on instilling confidence in cyclists by teaching them skills for all situations, while having a major focus on fun and social interaction. Through meet and spin groups, led by a qualified cycling coach, cyclists will be brought through topics like nutrition and goal-setting, along with learning skills like group cycling on the road and bike maintenance.

One of the main aims of Bike for Life is to close the gender gap in cycling, where 85% of the Cycling Ireland membership is currently male. It also aims to communicate with all people who want to cycle more, but are unsure where to begin.

Sponsored by the HSE, “Get Ireland Active”, initiative, Bike for Life will be instrumental in developing a strong cycling culture in Ireland, where we are experiencing a cycling boom. Head of health promotion in the HSE, Nazih Eldin said, “Cycling is a non-weight bearing activity that is easy on your joints, making it an inclusive health enhancing physical activity.”

The Irish Sports Council, who also supports Bike for Life through their Women in Sport initiative, recently confirmed cycling as one of the 3 accessible means of physical activity, along with walking and swimming.

Read More Here (Social Cycling Groups, UK)

Read More Here (Bike for Life)

Badminton- Magee’s and Evans qualify for World Championships

Jul 11, 2013

Irish Olympians Chloe Magee and Scott Evans, along with Sam Magee will represent Ireland at badminton’s World Championships in Guangzhou, China next month – the biggest event on the badminton calendar.

Chloe Magee, who is ranked 41 in the world, will compete in the women’s singles. With brother Sam, she will also compete in the mixed doubles; the pair are ranked No 36 in the world.

Scott Evans, ranked No 50 in the world and winner of seven consecutive  Irish national titles,  is entered for the men’s singles.

Last month, the trio warmed up for the World Championships with a short Asian tour competing in the Thailand and Indonesia Opens. They travel to China on August 3 after several weeks intensive training at Badminton Ireland’s National Training Centre in Dublin and also in England and Denmark.

The draw for the event takes place on July 22, so keep an eye out here and on Badminton Ireland’s Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news!

To see more pictures click here or visit Badminton Ireland’s website

Olympic Sailing Team Sign Rio 2016 Sponsor

Jul 11, 2013

In a continuation of its relationship with Irish high performance sailing, the Irish Olympic Sailing Team has announced a new deal for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Regatta in 2016 with Irish exploration firm Providence Resources in Dublin, this morning.

The deal is a major boost to the team as they prepare for Rio. It follows a six month deal put in place last year ahead of the London 2012 games and will provide significant additional resources to enable a competitive tilt at medals on the water.

“Providence Resources were so proud of the Irish Sailing Team at the Games in 2012, and we know they can achieve so much more,” said CEO Tony O’Reilly speaking at the launch. “We want to provide the team with the support to reach their goals in 2016.”

The Irish Sailing Team will be named Providence Team IRL for the four year period and joint branding will be rolled out over the coming weeks.

“We have had great support from the ISC and this commercial partnership raises the level at which we can compete,” added ISA Director James O’Callaghan. “We are an Island nation with a proven ability to mix with the best in international racing.”

The Providence deal extends across Olympic and Paralympic sailing and gear and boats will be rebranded as Providence Team IRL over the coming weeks.

Golden girl Annalise Murphy (23) and other members of the team were present when the city centre announcement was made with Providence Resources Chief Executive, Tony O’Reilly.

Annalise, who lost out on a medal in the final moments of her last race in Weymouth, has got her 2016 campaign off to a flying start winning two of three Eurocup events, earning her May’s Afloat sailor of the month award.

Murphy won both the Italian Lake Garda and Dutch rounds of the Eurocup to put her in top form for the Laser European Championships to be staged, for the first time, in her home waters of Dun Laoghaire next month at the National Yacht Club.

Annalise was joined for today’s press event by June’s Sail For Gold medal winner 49er sailor Matt Mcgovern, Laser Solo sailor James Espey and Paralympian John Twomey.

The Irish Sailing Team had their most successful Olympics for thirty years in 2012 with 4th, 10th and 14th finishes but did not win a medal as team officials predicted.

The sponsorship from Providence announced today means the team can spend more time at the Rio venue, a much more expensive proposition than Weymouth.

As of today, the 2016 sailing team members include:

Olympic
Annalise Murphy, (Laser Radial)

Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern, (49er)

James Espey (Laser)

Paralympic
John Twomey (Sonar)

Ian Costello (Sonar)

A number of other campaigns are currently in training to reach qualification standard for 2016 including two campaigns in the new all-female class 49er FX, namely Tiffany Brien and Saskia Tidey/ Claudine Murphy and Andrea Brewster.

Meanwhile, Royal Cork Star Sailor Peter O’Leary could still get a chance to sail in the Keelboat again but only if the venerable class is reinstated in the Olympic fleet line-up, a question everyone in Olympic Circles is asking.

Sailing at the Rio Games will be at Marina da Gloria in Guanabara Bay, where ominously forecasters say winds can be ‘noxiously light and flukey’.

Read More Here (Afloat) 

Read More Here (Sport For Business)

Read more about the Dun Laoghaire Regatta this week