Paralympics Ireland has nominated Chef de Mission of the Irish team at the 2016 Paralympic Games; Denis Toomey, to contest the election for the Executive Committee of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
As a member of the OCI Paralympics Ireland is keen to make a positive contribution to the Olympic movement in Ireland, similar to fellow National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) around the world strengthening the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and IPC (International Paralympic Committee) strategic partnership that is in place since 2001.
Commenting on the announcement Paralympics Ireland President Jimmy Gradwell stated; “It is clear there is need for a complete overhaul of the governance of the Olympic Council of Ireland. We are determined to try and play our part in making that happen, ensuring best practice going forward starting with the implementation of the Deloitte Report.”
Cork native Toomey; who led the Irish team as Chef de Mission at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and was formerly President of Cycling Ireland from 2013 to 2015, is keen to bring his extensive Games and administrative experience to the table, and be part of a new executive committed to a change agenda.
Speaking about his nomination Toomey said; “I believe my dedication as a volunteer in sport over many years has earned me the respect of my peers as an open and honest administrator focused on performance delivery. We need to develop an athlete centred approach for Team Ireland. If elected I will do everything in my power to make this the case.”
He also took the opportunity to declare his support, and that of Paralympics Ireland, for Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane as OCI President; “I believe she will be a leader for change if elected and her vast experience demonstrates that she is more than capable of leading the organisation in the right direction.”
