With less than two weeks to go until Allianz NextGen, Paralympics Ireland is encouraging young people with a disability, along with their families, to come to the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena to try out a variety of Para sports and have the chance to meet Paralympian and World Champion Greta Streimikyte on the day.
Taking place on Sunday, 30 November from 12-3pm at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, the event offers a welcoming, inclusive introduction to Para sport, giving participants the opportunity to try a variety of activities, meet experienced coaches, and learn more about how they can get involved in Para sport in their local areas.
This year’s edition will be led by World Para Athletics champion Greta Streimikyte, whose involvement brings an inspiring, athlete-led dimension to the experience. Greta will support young participants as they explore movement, sprinting and basic athletics skills, helping them build confidence and discover what they enjoy most.
Speaking about the event, Greta said: “I would encourage people of all ages to get involved with Allianz NextGen. It can be a bit intimidating as a person with a disability to know how to get involved in sport but isn’t until you come to an event like this that you see the opportunities that are available out there in sports you never even considered. Sport has made such an incredible difference to my life and I’m so delighted to encourage the next generation to get involved.”
Mark Brennan, Head of Marketing in Allianz Ireland said: “As the longest-standing supporter of Para sport in Ireland, Allianz is proud to have partnered with Paralympics Ireland since 2010. Sponsoring an event such as Allianz NextGen perfectly aligns with our ‘Stop The Drop’ campaign, which tackles the critical issue of declining sports participation among young people. This programme inspires children to discover their para sporting potential and helps create a more inclusive future for sport.”
Allianz NextGen is just one of the programmes seeking to address some of the stark findings revealed in ‘Gateways & Pathways: Athlete and Coach Experiences of Para Sport in Ireland’ carried out by Paralympics Ireland and University of Limerick which found that girls with disabilities begin participating in Para sport almost a decade later than boys. The research also revealed that there are significantly more obstacles for people with disabilities when it comes to participating in sport.
Interest in Allianz Next Gen continues to grow year on year, reflecting a clear appetite for accessible, enjoyable opportunities where young people with a disability can experience the fun of sport in a positive, supportive environment. The programme plays an important role in introducing young people to Para sport, but just as importantly, it creates a space where they can be active, try something new, and feel part of a wider sporting community.
Paralympics Ireland is encouraging families to register now to ensure they don’t miss out on what promises to be the most engaging and inspiring edition of Allianz NextGen to date. More details on how to register can be found on the Paralympics Ireland website here: https://paralympics.ie/dublin-to-welcome-the-next-allianz-nextgen-event/
Sports Attending:
- Para Cycling
- Para Athletics
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Rowing
- Para Badminton
Info Stands:
- Para Swimming
- Para Equestrian
- Para Archery
- Her Moves
