"It will be massive for the county" - First ever Laois Para inclusive games

A new VIP sports club in Laois is an Irish first, a club especially to train athletes with visual, intellectual and physical disabilities with a national games event planned this August. 

Athletes are travelling to Laois training sessions from all over Ireland, in preparation for the first ever Laois Para inclusive games.

“No county has ever run this, it’s the first in the country. It will be held over three days, based in nine locations, it will be massive for the county,” Tracey Percy regional co-ordinator of the VIP Hub told the Leinster Express at the Live Well Expo.

The games will be held in Portlaoise College, LOETBs, St Mary’s CBS, Vicarstown and Laois Leisure centres. The VIP Hub is funded by Sports Ireland from the dormant accounts fund.

"It is the first to support athletes with visual impairments, blindness or physical disabilities. We run all year round programmes for children and adults. We train them with the potential to be the next generation of Paralympians for Ireland,” Tracey said.

She is proud to say that already nine of their athletes have made it onto the Paralympic pathway from Laois. 

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Tracey who registered blind, is a Level 2 coach for javelin and shotputt, and trains Special Olympics, Paralympics and mainstream athletes.

"We want to get families involved ie going on kayaking trips and doing camps. We have built a national soccer team and our aim is to get them into mainstream clubs. People travel from Donegal, Galway, Cork and Dublin to train with us every week. It’s very busy, but it’s so positive,” she said.

The games will take place from August 14 to 16, with more information to follow in coming months.

Her stand was next to Laois Sports Partnership’s and Abbeyleix Vitality Hub, all providing a huge range of accessible sport activities across Laois.

"It is very busy today. Everyone wants to get involved in some kind of exercise and Laois is leading the way really, there are so many opportunities,” said Marie Thompson from the Abbeyleix hub.

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Caroline Myers is CEO of Laois Sports Partnership.

"Participation is up 41% since 2022, because we can now reach out to communities through our hubs that are based in communities,” she said.

Laois Water Safety were also represented, with chairperson Stephen O’Toole at their stand.

"We teach adult and child water safety classes in Portlaoise Leisure Centre and this summer we will have lifeguard classes in Ballinakill Pool and a water safety swim camp. We are looking for volunteers all the time,” said Stephen.