FRANCISSWIM - WATER SPORTS: August 2020

Friday, August 28, 2020

Channel 4 continues longstanding commitment to Paralympic sport securing Paris 2024 Paralympic Games rights

Channel 4 secures the UK rights to broadcast the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Channel 4 to build on legacy of ground-breaking London 2012 and Rio 2016 coverage

With exactly four years to go until the Opening Ceremony, Channel 4 on Friday, 28 August been awarded the UK television rights to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The deal with Channel 4 includes multi-platform broadcast rights within the UK and will see the broadcaster build on its acclaimed coverage of London 2012 and Rio 2016 which broke UK viewing records for Paralympic sport. London 2012 reached 69 per cent of the population.

Paris 2024 has set high ambitions for the organisation of the Paralympic Games, as the first ever Summer edition to be organised in France. For the first time in the history of the Games, Paris 2024 features a single emblem, reflecting its desire to place the Paralympic Games and the Olympic Games at the same level.

Paris 2024 will showcase Para athletes’ performances in a unique and spectacular way, organising the Games in some of the most iconic venues in Paris and its region, including Wheelchair Fencing in the Grand Palais, Blind Football in front of the Eiffel Tower and Para Equestrian in the Palace of Versailles. The partnership with Channel 4 will reinforce Paris 2024’s commitment to make the Paralympic Games resonate across the entire world.

World class marketing and disabled presenting and production talent will be key to successful profiling and broadcasting of Paris 2024 and Channel 4 aspires to maintain its prized position as a world leader in inclusion and accessibility. Sustainability will be at the heart of its coverage and the broadcaster aims to build on innovation within broadcasting that it has planned for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, being held next year.

Between 2012 and 2016 Channel 4 showcased more hours of Paralympic sport than any other broadcaster in history and created household names of both athletes and presenters. The 2016 award-winning Superhumans campaign was the most shared campaign globally of any Olympic or Paralympic partner; reaching over 48million people around the world.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “We are delighted that Channel 4, a broadcaster with a global reputation for its stunning Paralympic coverage, has been awarded the broadcast rights to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“With London 2012 and Rio 2016, Channel 4 created a blueprint for how a commercial broadcaster can raise the profile of Paralympic sport and its athletes to new levels. They have reached record audiences, in particular young people, identified and developed some fantastic new presenting talent and played a significant role in delivering seismic shifts in attitudes and perceptions towards people with an impairment in the UK.

“They have committed to build on this fantastic work over the next four years and continue to innovate within Paralympic broadcasting and we look forward to working with them as they help contribute to the IPC’s vision of enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence to inspire and excite the world.”

Alex Mahon, Channel 4 Chief Executive, said: “The Paralympic Games is at the heart of what we do at Channel 4 and we are proud to have been the Paralympic broadcaster since London 2012. We truly believe in the transformative power of sport and have been using the Paralympics to inspire change in attitudes towards disability in the UK since 2012.

“We believe with passion that the Paralympic Games can enrapture audiences, with high quality, dramatic, elite sport, and also drive social change in the perceptions of disability. There is nothing else quite like it. The decision to award Channel 4 the rights to Paris 2024 enables us to continue to broadcast ground-breaking and innovative coverage of the Paralympics, continue to build athlete profiles and to further cement the careers of our presenters.

“We have a new innovative approach to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which will be broadcast next year and I’m delighted that we have the opportunity to then build on our achievements over the next four years and to work in partnership with Paris 2024 and the IPC.”

Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 President, said: “Channel 4 has proved to be one of the most exciting and committed Paralympic broadcasters worldwide and we are delighted to count them among our partners to give the widest visibility possible to the first Summer Paralympic Games to be organised in France.

“Together with Channel 4, Paris 2024 will aim to further build excitement around the Paralympics, to shine a spotlight on the exceptional performances of the athletes, and to illustrate how sport can change lives and engage the next generation to be part of the Games.”

Mike Sharrock, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, said: “I’m thrilled that Channel 4 will continue to pave the way in progressive coverage of Paralympic sport here in the UK by retaining the broadcast rights for the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.

“The British public now experience Paralympic sport in a way which was unheard of before the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the first Games that Channel 4 broadcast. Channel 4 has taken the Paralympics to their heart and transformed themselves as a broadcaster in the process - athletes have become household names and sports have been profiled but also the increase in the number of disabled people involved as presenters, production teams, marketing, recruitment and Channel 4 staff have all made significant impact in every aspect of Channel 4’s approach.

“Channel 4 challenges the barriers that exist and helps to create role models which helps to support our vision that through sport, to inspire a better world for disabled people.”

Channel 4 will broadcast the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in 2021. Tokyo 2020 will see Channel 4 embrace technological advancements and the presenting team will be more diverse than ever before and will include more senior roles in its production team for disabled people.

Paris 2024 is hoping to announce further international broadcasters for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the near future.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

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LEN announce that the 2022 Water Polo Europeans to be held in September

LEN is happy to announce that the 2022 European Water Polo Championships in Split shall be held in two years time, from 27 August to 10 September. The autumn date was set in order to ensure that the players take the necessary recovering period after a busy spring in that year.

The LEN Bureau has opted to choose late summer-early autumn dates for the 2022 European Water Polo Championships. Though the last two mid-term editions of this event in 2014 and 2018 were held in the summer, LEN returns to the 2006 and 2010 schedule for 2022 and will stage the water polo Europeans in September. Partly because the current pandemic had a domino effect on the sporting calendar and due to the postponement of the Olympic Games to 2021, the FINA World Championships were also moved from the summer of 2021 to May 2022.

“To have our top water polo event in July 2022 would mean unbearable load for our great water polo players who will need to enjoy a substantial recovery period after an unprecedentedly busy spring” LEN President Paolo Barelli said. “Athletes’ welfare has always been in the core of LEN’s policies and we shall never move away from our principles. The Croatian Water Polo Federation and the local organisers were all very supportive to hold the championships at the end of the summer.”

“Though the event is still two years away, Croatia, the city of Split and the local water polo community are all already excited to welcome back the European Water Polo Championships to our country” Croatian Water Polo Federation President Mladen Drnasin added. “International water polo events always enjoy a fantastic atmosphere here in Croatia and we expect nothing less this time. On behalf of the organisers and the city, we can promise to deliver another outstanding championships in 2022.”

The magnificent Spaladium Arena is going to be the venue of the event in Split. It has a capacity of approximately 10,000 spectators and was the site of various outstanding sport events, including the 2009 men’s handball World Championships.

Early autumn dates have not been uncommon for the water polo Europeans: indeed, the last one held in Croatia in 2010 was also staged in September in Zagreb. Earlier, the 1999 edition in Florence/Prato and the 2006 edition in Belgrade also took place in September and all were tremendous success.

In 2022 the top water polo spectacle will follow the other highlight of the summer, the European Aquatics Championships in Rome, scheduled for 11-21 August.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

The Authentic Marathon Swim’s Schedule

Discover the event’s routes

Athens, August 27, 2020 – Time is running out for the historic race of The Authentic Marathon Swim that revives at Artemision 2,500 years later. Amateur and professional swimmers will enjoy the remarkable sporting event, on 4-6 September 2020, at Pefki, Evia, of the Municipality of Istiaia - Edipsos.

The authentic route

For the first time, after 2,500 years, the historic authentic 10km route will revive with the participation of world-class names that will swim over the shipwrecks of the historic naval battle of Artemision in 480 B.C. The demanding route is carried out at the straits of Artemision, connecting Central Greece with Thessaly and the regional units of Evia, Magnesia and Fthiotida. The event, honoring the history of its location, will symbolically award the winners of the routes with a branch of Mavroelia from Artemision or Olive Mavromandila. It is a monument of nature and local history, one of the oldest olive trees in the world, located in the ancient settlement of Artemision, dating back over 2,500 years.

The health protocol of The Authentic Marathon Swim

The event, which has the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, will be held in accordance with the FINA regulations and the health protocol established by event experts, certified by the World Health Organization based on the guidance of the expert scientists-collaborators of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and the epidemiological data and recommendations of Greek General Secretariat of Sports’ Health Committee, aiming towards ensuring the health of athletes and attendees. More information about the health protocol of the event can be found here: https://bit.ly/2YwJKLR

The schedule

On Saturday, September 5 at 16:00 in the afternoon, action will begin with the 3km open water swimming race, while at 18:00 the 1.5km start will follow. Swimmers will cover the triangular route that has been designed with a start and finish point at Pefki beach. The warm-up of the athletes will be held by the physical education instructor, Mandy Persaki. Respectively, on Sunday, September 6, the event will culminate with the revival of the authentic 10km marathon swimming route. Sofia Psilolignou, the three-time Greek champion, in the 5 km and 10 km routes, and two-time English Channel marathon swimmer, will be added to the top names participating in this route. The swimmers of this race will meet at the Pefki beach’s pier, at 07:45 in the morning, to be transported by boats at the starting point, immediately after, at 08:00. The race will start at 08:30 with a finish point at Pefki beach. At the same time, at 09:30 in the morning, the 800m children’s race will be held. You may find the full schedule of the event here: www.authenticmarathonswim.com/schedule

The swimming routes

All routes of The Authentic Marathon Swim have been designed by the Greek national swimming coach with distinctions in Olympic Games & world open water swimming championships, Nikos Gemelos. You may find the routes here: www.authenticmarathonswim.com/routes

What swimmers need to know & bring along

The event prioritizing the absolute safety of its athletes, will provide everyone with a high-quality safety lifeguard buoy. The participating athletes of the Hellenic Swimming Federation must have their respective health certificate, whereas all other swimmers must provide a health certificate from a cardiologist. The use of wetsuit is not allowed in the 10km route, while in the other routes, swimmers will not be included in the official results.

You may find here the detailed terms & conditions that participants should know: https://bit.ly/3j5LoMz

Registrations & Participation kit pick-ups

Registrations for the 10km route have already been completed, while those of 3km, 1.5km and the 800m children’s race continue at an undiminished pace. Interested parties can take part, by filling in the special form available at the following link: https://www.myrace.gr/en/event/2407/registrations.html

Please note that no registrations will be allowed on the day of the races. The event provides the opportunity of delivering the participation kit by courier, before the races, to avoid overcrowding in the registration area. Moreover, for the public’s best of service the organization provides the possibility of receiving the participation kit 24 hours before the start of each race as the registration area will be open on Friday, September 4, from 17.00 in the morning until 20:00 in the evening and on Saturday, September 5, from 10.00 in the morning until 20:00 in the evening, at Pefki beach. Participants are kindly requested to arrive at the registration area at least 45 minutes before their race’s start, in order to receive their kit and avoid potential last-minute overcrowding and queues. Swimmers and visitors are advised to wear a protective mask during their stay at the registration area.

The event will also provide participants with the opportunity to watch, update and respond to live chat for the races via Viber, Facebook Messenger and sms during the event, to avoid crowds at the registration area, as defined by the GDPR rules on personal data protection.

Among other things, participation kits will include the event’s bag and t-shirt from Luanvi, a swimming cap from Mosconi, towel, tattoo entry number, timing chip and numerous gifts from the event’s sponsors.

All athletes will receive a medal at the finish. Due to the current health conditions no award ceremony will be held.

Easy access & affordable accommodation packages at the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos

The Authentic Marathon Swim already collaborates with more than 30 hotels in the region, with the aim of revitalizing the sports tourism industry of Northern Evia and strengthening the Greek tourism product. Up to this point, this year’s event is enormously supported with special offers and prices starting from 40 euros, by the following hospitality sponsors: Maria Louiza Apartments, Hydna Studios, Hotel 40 Platania, Altamar Hotel, Ellaeon Throesma, Artemision Hotel, Galini Hotel Edipsos, Ilios Studios, Villa Anastasia, Κochili Apartments, Mirtia Hotel, Island, Irene Studios, Aidipsos Hotel, Aktaion Hotel, Aenaon Studios, Alex Spa Hotel, Anesis Pefki, Athina Studios, Artemis Rooms Pefki, Arethousa Hotel, Avli Hotel, Dimitra Apartments, Ermis Spa Hotel, Evia Dream, Galini Hotel Pefki, Kallithea Hotel, Katerina Apartments, Konstantinos Hotel, Lito Hotel, Mitho Hotel, Jenny Studios, Papadioti Αpartments, Rodon Hotel, Drosia Studios, Garden Studios Pefki.

Participants and visitors can take advantage of the special offers, providing reduced accommodation prices and late check out while discovering beautiful hotels in the areas of Pefki, Loutra Edipsos, Artemision, Istiaia, Kanatadika, Neos Pyrgos, Orei and Agiokampos.

Check the event’s specially designed page and discover the accommodation packages and special offers which are valid for the participants: https://www.authenticmarathonswim.com/accommodation/

Ferries itineraries

For the best access to Pefki Evia, you may find the ferry itineraries for the routes Edipsos - Arkitsa and Agiokampos - Glyfa here: www.authenticmarathonswim.com/location

The Authentic Marathon Swim is held under the Auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization and it is listed in the “Thermopylae-Salamis 2020” Anniversary framework. The event is organized by the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos while Active Media Group is responsible for its sports production.

The Authentic Marathon Swim has joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2020 programme of the European Commission and is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports.

The event has joined the swimming community Global Swim Series (GSS).

The leading company in the field of aquaculture in Greece, Philosofish, the official sponsor of The Authentic Marathon Swim, produces superior quality sea bream, sea bass, porgy and sharpsnout sea bream. With respect to the environment, it applies new techniques and is oriented towards production technologies that utilize the competitive advantage of Greek waters and coasts for the production of high-quality fish. The company’s mission is to develop and promote a rich and balanced diet based on fish. Its vision is to become one of the most significant companies in the industry in the European and international market, always contributing to the effort for production based on the sustainable future of the aquatic environment.

Vikos Natural Mineral Water is the event’s Official Water.

Luanvi is the Official Clothing Partner.

Mosconi is the Official Sports Supplier.

Avance is the event’s Official Car Rental Partner.

Messinian Spa is the Official Beauty Partner and Target Security the Security Partner.

The event’s Partners include Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece, Syconia, Almanda, Dirfis Mushrooms, Fysiotek Sports Lab.

Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Leandros, Swimmingclub.gr, LA Elite Fitness, APS TRIAS, Kallithea Open Water Team are The Authentic Marathon Swim’s Athletic Partners.

Swimbikerun.gr is the Media Partner.

The event is assisted by Lifeguard Patrol, Meliriton, To Kochili.

Hashtag: #authenticmarathonswim

Website: www.authenticmarathonswim.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthenticMarathonSwim

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/authenticmarathonswim

Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/themarathonswim

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYxMgl-j5wgosL10lyRay5Q

Créditos cada foto:

1: A autêntica maratona de natação (foto de Elias Lefas)

2: A Autêntica Maratona Swim (foto de Elias Lefas)

3: Imagens impressionantes de drones de Lichadonisia, Evia (foto de Loukas Hapsis)

4: Imagens impressionantes de drones de Agios Nikolaos, Evia (crédito da foto por DTMH - copyrights: Marketing Greece)

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Paralympics documentary ‘Rising Phoenix’ premieres globally on Netflix

Trailblazing Paralympics documentary ‘Rising Phoenix’ premieres globally in over 190 countries today (26 August) on Netflix to coincide with the one-year-to-go celebrations for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Featuring nine Paralympians from across the world, this cutting-edge movie tells the remarkable story of the Paralympic Games from the rubble of World War II until becoming the third biggest sporting event on the planet.

‘Rising Phoenix’ examines how the Paralympics have sparked a global movement throughout the decades and shows how it continues to change the way the world thinks about disability, excellence, diversity and human potential.

Bebe Vio (Italy), Ellie Cole (Australia), Jean-Baptiste Alaize (France), Matt Stutzman (USA), Jonnie Peacock (Great Britain), Cui Zhe (China), Ryley Batt (Australia), Ntando Mahlangu (South Africa) and Tatyana McFadden (USA) are the nine Paralympic athletes whose exceptional stories are depicted.

Multiple-swimming Paralympic champion Cole strongly believes ‘Rising Phoenix’ will help take the Movement in to the next level.

“When I see a piece of work like this one, and especially something that a brand like Netflix is taking up, I think back to when I was 9 or 10 years old and not knowing that Para sport even existed,” she said.

“I’ve seen the evolution to what it has become to the point where there’s a Netflix documentary and that is something else. It makes me proud because I’ve seen it change so dramatically. I know what it used to be like.

“I think people who watch the film, particularly those who aren’t fans already, are going to finally understand that the Paralympic Movement is really multi-dimensional. It’s actually so cool.”

Paralympic athletics silver medallist Mahlangu is one of the rising Paralympic stars, having made a name for himself at the young age of 18 following many successes on the track.

He agrees with Cole that this documentary is an example of sport’s power for uniting the world.

“What is definitely in my heart is the story of the Paralympians. I think this is a platform where people will learn about the Paralympics and this is what I wanted.

“People are going to start supporting Paralympics, people are going to start knowing what the Paralympics are, so it’s going to be a good platform for everyone in the Paralympics.

“Sports are supposed to keep us together and to bring us together and I think this film is definitely going to do that, not only for people who know about the Paralympics but it’s going to bring the whole world together.”

Born without arms, archer Stutzman is a well-known name in the Paralympics with his unique feet-shooting style.

The 37-year-old from Team USA said: “I think (the movie) is trying to bring awareness to everyone who is watching. Yes, we have physical disabilities but that does not stop us. We can still live normal lives; we can still be the person who goes to the grocery store and gets food. We can live like everybody else.

"In this documentary they really allowed me to just be me. If I wanted to be funny, I could be funny. If I wanted to do something specific, they were very open about showing the world who Matt Stutzman was. For me, that made it amazing because most of the time they have an idea of what they want you to say or talk about, but because of this freedom I could show the world a different side of Matt. Maybe what Matt really is. To get that opportunity in such a film makes it even better.”

At the same time, wheelchair rugby legend Batt wishes he could watch 'Rising Phoenix’ together with his grandfather. “I was by myself the first time I saw Rising Phoenix, and it even had me in tears. My Pop knows he was a big influence on my life but God, he would be proud to see this.

“Pop loved to get behind the camera, and he filmed some of the footage you see in the movie. He was very proud of me and he would be really stoked that I’m in a documentary like that, embracing who I am.

“I watched the movie for the second time with my family and they were all in tears. It wasn’t tears of 'I feel so sorry for you.' it was tears of pride, seeing what myself and these other athletes have overcome and also the challenges that we’ve all accepted.”

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “There is absolutely no doubt that this film will transform every single person who watches it. This is a film that will empower so many people around the world and further bring to life the vision of the Paralympic Movement’s founder Sir Ludwig Guttmann.

“To call this movie a game-changer for the Paralympic Movement is an understatement. It is a very special film and I cannot wait for the world to see it.”

Rising Phoenix is an HTYT Films and Passion Pictures production in association with Ventureland and Misfits Entertainment.

The title track from the film ‘Rising Phoenix’, scored by Daniel Pemberton and performed by Krip Hop Nation, is available to download from all major online outlets: https://www.paralympic.org/news/title-track-and-video-rising-phoenix-released-globally

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

2020 World Triathlon Champions to be crowned at WTS Hamburg

In a teleconference meeting, the World Triathlon Executive Board approved the awarding of the 2020 World Championships titles in Hamburg, at the Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon event to be held on September 5. This decision follows the Board’s approval of the cancellation of the other two remaining events of the 2020 World Triathlon Series, the Groupe Copley World Triathlon Montreal and the MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda.

After receiving a comprehensive update of the status of the events worldwide, and following numerous discussions with local organisers, National Federations and governments, the Board approved the request of Triathlon Canada to cancel the Groupe Copley World Triathlon Montreal event and the 2020 Montreal Paratriathlon World Championships, planned for October 3-4, as well as the request, due to the current COVID 19 outbreak impacting events worldwide, by the organisers of the 2020 MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda and the Bermuda Paratriathlon World Cup to also cancel the events, planned for November 2020.

With Hamburg remaining as the only WTS event of the 2020 season, and following the World Triathlon Series current contractual obligations, the decision was made to award the World Championship Titles in this race, with the Mixed Relay World Championships also taking place in Hamburg on September 6. Start lists for the event are currently full for the male, female and Mixed Relay races, with current World Champions Katie Zaferes (USA) and Vincent Luis (FRA) ready to toe the start line along with double Olympic medalist Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) and multiple World Champions such as Mario Mola (ESP), Flora Duffy (BER) or Vicky Holland (GBR), among many others. Quotas will be increased in 10 athletes per gender to allow 65 men and 65 women to compete.

Karlovy Vary (CZE) and Arzachena (ITA) will host the next World Cup races on 13 September and 10 October respectively, while Alhandra (POR) will play host to the only Paratriathlon World Cup of this season also on the weekend of 10 October, a year that has been heavily impacted by the pandemic worldwide. Unfortunately, the Paratriathlon World Championships won’t take place in 2020.

After many months of deliberations to ensure the best outcomes for all stakeholders, the Executive Board decided to split the Grand Final already for 2021. Edmonton (CAN) will host the Grand Final in August -Elite and U23 Olympic distance, Age-Group Olympic and Super-Sprint distance events- whilst Bermuda will organise the Sprint and Mixed Relay World Championships in October, i.e. the Super-Sprint for the Elites, Elite World Championships, Junior World Championships, Age-Group Sprint World Championships and the Mixed Relay World Champs for all categories-. The 2021 Paratriathlon World Championships will be hosted prior to the Paralympic Games, in a third location to be determined in future Board meetings after opening the bidding process, then receiving and reviewing proposals from organisers.

“Athletes, coaches, National Federations and ourselves… we all know this has been and still is a very strange year with endless challenges, and that we need to make the best decisions humanly possible in the best interest of all concerned. We know that announcing that the World Championships title will now, following the cancellation of the two events, be contested at the only event left on the calendar and that there is little advanced notice of this announcement, is far from ideal. We want to assure you that it is not just the best option but the only option we have to give our athletes the chance to compete and showcase their best at this level. I really want to thank the organisers, the German Federation and the World Triathlon staff for their commitment and efforts to make this opportunity, under challenging circumstances, possible. We appreciate their helping all the athletes and coaches travel to Germany to compete despite some travel restrictions and their setting up of an event and a course that I am sure will be magnificent”, explained World Triathlon President and IOC member, Marisol Casado.

“Sport can be a great tool on the road to recovery, we are slowly going back to this new normality, and we are doing everything we can to support the athletes, organisers, national federations and all our partners on this journey. The health and safety of all the athletes is our first priority, and keeping that in mind, we will make every effort to deliver a great event and crown the World Champions”, she said.

The Executive Board also approved the call for Congress, to be held on 29 November, with nominations for President, Vice Presidents, Board members and Committees open until 15 October. The Congress will either take place in Paris with some members attending virtually, or fully virtual if the travel restrictions due to the COVID 19 outbreak increase in the upcoming weeks.

World Triathlon Union

Paralympics Ireland Renew Agreement with Narita City

Paralympics Ireland joined representatives from Narita City this morning (August 24th) to sign an agreement that confirms that the city will host Team Ireland for their pre-games training camp in August 2021 prior to the Paralympic Games.

Narita had been confirmed to host the Irish Paralympic Team this month but those plans had to change as a result of the postponement of Tokyo 2020 to August 2021. Team Ireland had been due to arrive in Narita City on August 11th where the team would acclimatise to their new environment while training at the Nakadai Sports Centre and the Chiba International Swimming Pool. Narita, which is situated 60km to the NorthWest of Tokyo, would have hosted the team until they relocated to the Athletes village in Tokyo.

Paralympics Ireland CEO, Miriam Malone, and Paralympics Ireland President, John Fulham joined Narita City Mayor, Kazunari Koizumi and Vice Mayor Kenji Sekine to sign an agreement that will see Narita city host the Irish team prior to the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The signing ceremony took place remotely by Zoom with Mayor Koizumi and Miriam Malone signing the agreement confirming the renewal of the arrangements between the two parties. A new joint Facebook page was launched in Japanese to promote Team Ireland’s training camp in Narita and can be seen by clicking HERE.

Speaking about the agreement Paralympics Ireland CEO Miriam Malone said ‘We are very pleased to confirm that Team Ireland will be coming to Narita City for our Acclimatisation camp prior to the Rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. We had developed a wonderful relationship with Narita as we planned for the original dates of the games and I am delighted that we will be able to continue that relationship. I would like to thank Mayor Koizumi, Vice Mayor Sekine and their team in Narita for their help throughout the past few months. We can now look forward to the future and planning together for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next August.’

Note to Picture Editors: Picture caption (left to right): Miriam Malone, CEO Paralympics Ireland (on screen), Narita City Mayor Kazunari Koizumi, Narita City Vice Mayor Kenji Sekine, Narita City Mascot ‘Unari Kun’

Paralympics Ireland Announce Programme of Events to Mark Original Dates of 2020 Paralympic Games

Paralympics Ireland have today announced a full programme of remote events to mark what would have been the dates

on which the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games would have been scheduled to take place.

The Paralympic Games had been set to begin on Tuesday, August 25th with the traditional opening ceremony followed by two weeks of intense competition coming to an end with the closing ceremony on September 6th. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games have since been rescheduled to August 24th 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Paralympics Ireland will host 14 days of remote activity to mark the original dates of the Games commencing with an ‘Opening Ceremony’ featuring Paralympics Ireland President, John Fulham, Paralympic legend, Jason Smyth and Para Badminton hopeful Niall McVeigh live via Zoom.

Paralympics Ireland will also be amongst the first to use the Netflix Party technology as the organisation will host a watch party for the new official Netflix documentary about the Paralympic Games, ‘Rising Phoenix’ which premieres on the streaming service on August 26th. Each day will see a different sports focus with a panel of athletes and experts discussing everything from Para Athletics, Para Swimming, Para Cycling, High Performance to Commercial partnerships.

Social Media will play a major role throughout the fortnight of activity with athletes including Para Equestrian athlete Michael Murphy, Para Cyclist Eve McCrystal and Para Archer Kerrie Leonard amongst the stars that will take over the official Paralympics Ireland Instagram page. The entire campaign will run in conjunction with, and in support of, the International Paralympic Committee’s #WaitfortheGreats campaign.

Like all sporting organisations Paralympics Ireland has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. To help alleviate the financial effects of the virus, Paralympics Ireland will also launch a social media fundraising campaign as part of the One Year to Go campaign where the public will be able to donate money to help our Para Athletes prepare for and compete at the Games. This campaign will be launched initially using the official Paralympics Ireland Facebook and Instagram pages.

Speaking about the One Year to Go #WaitfortheGreats campaign Paralympics Ireland CEO, Miriam Malone said ‘We are delighted to launch a two week awareness campaign to mark what would have been the dates for the Paralympic Games. Although the games have been postponed until next year, we feel it is important to celebrate the Paralympic Movement and especially our Irish Paralympians. We have an ambitious fortnight of activity planned that will highlight many Irish Paralympic sports and will see the focus fall on our athletes that have worked so hard. We will also launch Phase One of our fundraising campaign which is a new departure for Paralympics Ireland. Although the Games have changed, our ambitions for success have not and with the help of the public, along with the support of our brilliant commercial partners, our funders in Sport Ireland and the Government, I believe we can deliver something really special in Tokyo in one year.’

Paralympics Ireland #WaitfortheGreats Programme of activity

Monday August 24th One Year To Go Signing Ceremony with Host City

Tuesday August 25th Opening Ceremony Zoom Panel with Jason Smyth and John Fulham

Wednesday August 26th Rising Phoenix Netflix Party to mark launch of Official Paralympic Documentary

Thursday August 27th Cycling Focus Focus on Para Cycling with Richael Timonty, Ronan Grimes & Declan Slevin

Friday, August 28th Sports Focus Focus on Para Shooting with Sean Baldwin and Para Table Tennis with Colin Judge

Saturday, August 29th Instagram Takeover Para Cycling star, Eve McCrystal, takes over the official Paralympics Ireland Instagram

Sunday, August 30th Instagram Takeover Para Equestrian Rider, Michael Murphy, takes over the official Paralympics Ireland Instagram page

Monday, August 31st Athletics Focus Para Athletics Focus with Head of Para Athletics, James Nolan, Paralympic Champion Michael McKillop and Para Shot Putter, Mary Fitzgerald

Tuesday, September 1st Swimming Focus Para Swimming Focus with Head of Para Swimming, Hayley Burke and Paralympic hopeful, Johnathan McGrath

Wednesday, September 2nd Sports Focus Focus on the Para Sports of Para Triathlon, Para Equestrian and Para Archery

Thursday, September 3rd Partner Focus Sport for Business’ Rob Hartnett is joined by a panel of commercial partners of Paralympics Ireland.

Friday, September 4th High Performance Paralympics Ireland Director of High Performance, Dave Malone, leads a pnael including high performance coaches from Para Cycling, Para Athletics and Sport Ireland

Saturday, September 5th Instagram Takeover Para Archer Kerrie Leonard takes control of the Official Paralympics Ireland Instagram Page

Sunday, September 6th Closing Ceremony Highlights and talking points from the week of activity are brought together as we look back on the #WaitfortheGreats campaign

NOTES: Please note that each panel will be made available to media via YouTube link. Media are invited to take part and ask questions live in events on August 25th, September 3rd and September 4th by applying via return email.

Press releases with quotes from each panel will be circulated after the release of each video.