Toomey seeks support for qualifying campaign

Paralympics Cycling:Paralympic Cycling Ireland manager Denis Toomey yesterday appealed to Irish businesses and other donors to get involved in backing the team prior to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

Speaking at a media briefing in Dublin, Toomey said that the squad would otherwise fall far short of the funding required for their 2007 qualification and training campaign. "Our minimum costs for 2007 will be at least €83,000," he said.

"This is just to cover the race entry, equipment, travel and accommodation. With track wheels costing in the region of €4,000 per set and a top class tandem costing up to €5,000, much more is required to give the squad their best support."

Last year the Irish squad received just €15,000 in Irish Sports Council funding. Paralympic Cycling Ireland is hoping that this will double this year but even so, they will still be at least €53,000 short.

Toomey pointed out that far greater funding was available to other countries. "It's hard for us not to contrast our situation with that of Britain, whose squad receives £1 million per annum and have two indoor velodromes at their disposal" he said.

The Irish squad fared well at last year's World Championships, taking four top 10 placings and setting a total of six new Irish records. Paralympic Cycling Ireland had just one placing at the last Paralympics but the good showing in the Worlds has greatly increased confidence that more riders can qualify this time round.

Strong performances at the Paralympic World Championships in Bordeaux this August are crucial to these hopes. In order to maximise chances, Toomey is hoping to send the largest ever Irish squad, including male and female visually impaired cyclists riding tandem bikes with a sighted pilot, at least one cerebral palsy cyclist and at least one locomotor disorder (limb amputee) cyclist.

One athlete from each of these categories, Michael Delaney, Enda Smyth and Cathal Miller, was named as being part of the provisional squad yesterday. Each broke national records in the 2006 world championships, with Miller and Smyth also taking top 10 finishes.

The Irish squad competes in both road and track competitions in order to maximise ranking points gained. However, due to the fact that the country has no indoor velodrome, the squad is forced to travel outside Ireland from time to time in order to train.

This increases costs and also places greater time demands on the athletes and officials, most of whom are volunteers.

"We have a very committed squad, and they are prepared to put in the hard work in order to help us achieve our dream of sending four bikes to Beijing," said Toomey. "But without the money to support the intensive training programme required, all their work could be for nothing.

"We urgently need to secure adequate funds to ensure we can train and compete at the same level to our competitors. I am appealing to corporate Ireland to come to our rescue and help ensure Irish Paralympic cyclists secure maximum qualification slots for Beijing 2008"