Dockery leads Irish Paralympic team in opening ceremony

Ireland’s flag bearer, six-time Paralympian Patrice Dockery, proudly led the 45-strong Irish team along with team staff into Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium today at opening ceremony of the 13th Paralympic Games.

Beaming with pride, track athlete Dockery said: “It was wonderful. I thought going in it may be overwhelming but as soon as we marched in it felt just deadly to be Irish and I couldn’t have been more proud. It was a real honour to lead in this Irish team. We can’t wait to get started now.”

The ceremony was a moment the team had been looking forward to since their arrival in the Chinese capital almost a fortnight ago.

Teenage Wexford swimmer Darragh McDonald was lost for words afterwards: “Absolutely amazing; it was just brilliant. I was just speechless, and it’s one of the rare occasions I was! The whole team was amazed, in awe of the whole thing and just delighted to be here. My favourite part was definitely walking into the stadium.”

Performance director for the Irish team Liam Harbison said: “Words can’t describe the feeling of entering the stadium with our team; the atmosphere was electric among them. They were singing in the tunnel when we were waiting to march in! It’s really here, the Games are on. Preparation done - success to come.”

Nine Irish athletes will begin their Games tomorrow, with four of them making their Paralympic Games debuts.

All four Boccia players are in action in the pool stages of the individual competition in the morning, with cyclists Enda Smyth and Michael Delaney racing in the veledrome.

Dublin teenager Ellen Keane starts her campaign in the pool in the water cube in the morning in the heats of the 100m Butterfly.

In the afternoon, Catherine Walsh races in the final of 1km tandem time trial in the veledrome with sighted pilot rider Joanna Hickey, with first time Paralympian Eimear Breathnach competing in the individual table tennis event.