Paralympic panels travel to Beijing

MEMBERS of the Irish Paralympic panels will travel to Beijing on Thursday for 10 days of acclimatisation and familiarisation in advance of next year’s Paralympic Games.

The visit will also be important for the athletes with their sights on the Olympic Games which will be well advanced this time next year.

Accompanied by Beijing 2008 chef de mission Jimmy Byrne and the PCI performance team of Liam Harbison and Nancy Chillingworth, the 67 athletes and staff will spend ten days training and living in the Beijing environment in order to simulate the conditions and the environment in which the successful candidates will compete next year.