Paralympics Ireland have today announced the appointment of Denis Toomey as the Chef de Mission for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Cork native, Denis, brings unparalleled experience with him to the role as both an athlete and an administrator. Denis returns to the Chef de Mission role having occupied the same position at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. He also competed at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games as the pilot on the tandem cycling team with Mark Keogh, the first time that Ireland competed in cycling at the Paralympic Games.
Denis is highly respected in Irish sporting circles having been a founding member of Paracycling Ireland. He was the Irish Paracycling manager from 2005 to 2012 including the Beijing and London games. He also served as President of Cycling Ireland from 2012 to 2015 and he is a delegate to both the European Cycling Union and the International Cycling Union and he has been inducted in the Cycling Ireland Hall of Fame.
Speaking about the appointment of Denis Toomey as the Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Ireland CEO, Miriam Malone, said “ On behalf of all in Paralympics Ireland I would like to welcome Denis into the role as Chef de Mission. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his time as an athlete, an administrator and indeed as the Chef for Rio. I very much look forward to working with Denis in this role to lead the Irish Paralympic team to Tokyo 2020”
Speaking about his appointment as Chef de Mission Denis Toomey said “Every 4 years we get the opportunity over the 12 days of the Paralympic Games to live the Paralympics Ireland Mission of “Leading Elite Irish Athletes to Paralympics Games Success” I am honoured and delighted that Paralympics Ireland have chosen me as Chef de Mission to lead the team that will strive for successful delivery of the Mission in Tokyo next year”
