Tipperary's Peter Ryan honoured by Sports Minister
Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan presented awards from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) to blind and vision impaired Paralympians from Team Ireland on Friday 2nd December.
The awards recognise the achievements of the athletes at Rio 2016 in the fields of athletics, tandem cycling and the first ever Para-triathlon.
Seven blind or vision impaired athletes and three tandem pilots attended the reception, held by NCBI, including Peter Ryan.
Peter made his debut in this years Paralympics in Rio. He competed in the tandem time trial and road race.
Gold medallist Jason Smyth who won his 5th Gold Paralympic medal at Rio
. Katie George Dunleavy and pilot Eve McCrystal, who won their first Paralympic gold. Katie is only the 4th vision impaired Paralympic athlete ever to win gold.
Also in attendance was veteran Paralympian Catherine Walsh who has now competed in a record seven Paralympics.
Minister O’Donovan congratulated each of the athletes on their significant achievements and for inspiring young people who are blind or vision impaired.
“I was delighted to present these awards on behalf of the National Council for the Blind, particularly as it comes a day ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It’s a particularly appropriate time to recognise the achievements of these athletes, whose journey to Rio 2016 has faced even greater hurdles than that of other elite athletes.
'The legacy of their success goes far beyond the number of medals won. In inspiring young people who are blind or vision impaired to get involved in sport, at any level, these athletes are helping to develop the athletes who will go on to representing Ireland at Paralympics for many years to come.”
There are a number of barriers that prevent children and young people with sight loss from participating in sport and recreation.
These include lack of awareness on how to accommodate someone with a vision impairment in mainstream sport and the lack of availability of either vision impaired sporting opportunities locally or public transport to get to a centre where they are available, particularly in rural areas.
Chris White, CEO of NCBI, stressed the importance of opening up sporting opportunities for young people who are blind or vision impaired.
“The benefits to being active are immense. It helps to combat social isolation, which is a huge problem for people with sight loss. Being involved in sport also improves self-confidence, develops new skills and of course has many health benefits. NCBI is proud to present these awards to our athletes and proud to keep working with Vision Sports Ireland to ensure we continue to provide opportunities for our young people with sight loss to try new sports and to excel in the same way as their sighted peers.”