TheAustralian Para Powerlifting Team with Kerry Sports Academy staff, Cllr Paul Daly, Mayor of Tralee Angie Baily and Cllr Terry O’Brien.THE Australian Para Powerlifting Team were welcomed to the Kerry Sports Academy at the Munster Technological University for an intensive training camp as they continue their preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The team received a warm Kerry welcome from Mayor of Tralee, Angie Baily, Cllr Paul Daly and Councillor Terry O’Brien, who greeted the athletes at the Academy and wished them every success as they prepare for competition.
The training camp provides the athletes with opportunity to use accessible sporting facilities as they fine-tune their performance ahead of one of the biggest competitions on the international sporting calendar.
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A key element in facilitating the camp has been the support of the Kingdom Wheelblasters Basketball Club.
Through the efforts of Aileen and Tadhg Buckley, specialist competition-standard powerlifting equipment was secured on loan from the Irish Wheelchair Association and installed at the Kerry Sports Academy, ensuring the Australian team could train in competition conditions throughout their stay.
This initiative also highlights the community support that helped bring the Kerry Sports Academy facility to fruition.
Former Irish Paralympian Roy Guerin played a significant role as an ambassador during the fundraising campaign to construct the Kerry Sports Academy.
He is involved with the team logistics locally throughout this camp, his commitment to promoting inclusive sport continues to benefit athletes from Ireland and around the world.
Hazel Byrne, Manager of Kerry Sports Academy, expressed her appreciation to those who helped make the training camp possible.
“We are delighted to welcome the Australian Para Powerlifting Team to Kerry Sports Academy as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The presence of the Australian Para Powerlifting Team is a testament to the quality of the facilities available at the Kerry Sports Academy and to the collaborative efforts of all involved who have worked to make this possible, we wish the Australian Para Powerlifting Team every success as they complete their preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow”.
Mayor of Tralee, Angie Baily; “I was thrilled that the Australian Para Powerlifting team and coaches chose MTU Kerry, here in wonderful Tralee for their pre-Commonwealth Games training. It was a true honour to meet them and to witness firsthand their incredible athleticism and strength.”
“The Commonwealth Games represent unity and diversity and I was delighted to represent Tralee, along with Cllr. Terry O Brien, in welcoming them to our town. I would like to thank the MTU Kerry, Roy Guerin, NGB Irish Wheelchair Sport for the loan of the equipment and everyone else who helped make this training possible.”
