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IBS Athletes off to record start in Paralympic Games 2008

September 2008

Magnificent opening ceremony at Beijing 2008 in front of 90,000 spectators (Courtesy PCI)

On Saturday evening, after a spectacular ceremony in front of a capacity 90,000 people in the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, the XIII Paralympiad was finally declared underway by Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China, The Irish team were led out by flag bearer Patrice Dockery and Chef de Mission Jimmy Byrne, as they marched around the stadium in the Parade of Ahletes, to a rousing reception.

In Tandem Cycling, Michael Delaney and his pilot David Peelo, were straight into action the following morning, coming in 13th place in the 4 km Individual Pursuit.

Better still, Catherine Walsh, and pilot Joanna Hickey, set an Irish record in the final of the women’s 1km Time Trial, in a time of 1:09:066 (beating their previous record by more than 2 seconds).

Afterwards Irish cycling manager Denis Toomey said: "I am over the moon with the results, two Irish records is fantastic and we are on schedule with what we planned”.

The following day (Monday 8th September), Tandem pair Michael Delaney and pilot David Peelo, returned to the track in the 1km Time Trial, where they recorded a time of 1.08.593, a new Irish record, taking one second off their previous best. Impressively this means that all four Irish bikes in action in Beijing have broken an Irish record with several events yet to come.