New wheelchair basketball event launched by IWA 

TRANSITION Year students are to be given an opportunity to engage in a disability awareness programme and also experience a Paralympic sport. 

Last week the first All-Ireland TY Wheelchair Basketball Championships, which will take place in 2017/2018, were launched. 

During the championships, organised by the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), based in Clontarf, the students will be given the chance to immerse themselves in a fast paced, edge of your seat game, providing an authentic first hand inclusive experience of the game and wheelchair sports.

Speaking about the championships, Charlene Hurley, IWA national fundraising manager, said the championships invites Transition Year students to have the opportunity to take part in wheelchair basketball as a team and compete in a national event against their neighbouring schools. 

“The programme will include four regional finals held in January and February 2018, in Galway, Meath, Cork and Waterford,” said Ms Hurley. 

The top teams will then get to take part in the All-Ireland TY Wheelchair Basketball Championships Finals to be held in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght, on Tuesday, March 13, 

2018.”

American basketball player Jerome Westbrooks, one of the most iconic figures in Irish basketball, attended the launch. 

Now a basketball coach and PE teacher, he encouraged TY coordinators to register their students for the championships. 

“Basketball is an incredible team sport and one of the most popular sports played in Irish secondary schools nationwide,” he said. 

“It is important for everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy and participate in sport. 

“The championships provides students and their teachers with a unique opportunity to learn more about wheelchair sports and to participate in a disability awareness programme also. 

“Most importantly, the championships promises to be great fun and something each student can take away as a fantastic programme they participated in as part of the TY Programme.” 

For further information about the championships, or to register your school, visit www.iwa.ie/basketball or contact Charlene Hurley, on 087-2600802 or email charlene.hurley@iwa.ie. Schools must be registered by October 27.