PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
Irish Paralympians rack up awards
Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop and Bethany Firth headlined the winners at the inaugural OCS Irish Paralympic Awards gala.
#Paralympics trends to No. 1 on Twitter
#Paralympics topped the table for the most trending UK sport event of 2012, beating off stiff competition from the Olympics and football clubs.
George wins Belgium’s Equestrala award
Michèle George became the first Paralympic athlete to win Belgium’s equestrian rider of the year award.
Kenyans awarded for top 2012 performances
Kenya’s NPC was named the nation’s best sports organisation of the year.
Sochi 2014 announces volunteer application deadline
The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee has set 1 March 2013 as the closing date for volunteer applications.
No. 22: Germany bucket first gold since 1984
After settling for silver at the previous Paralympics and World Championships, Germany’s women’s wheelchair basketball team got their gold at London 2012.
Cartwright and O’Hanlon win Athletics Australia awards
Kelly Cartwright and Evan O’Hanlon were named Athletes with a Disability of the Year at the Athletics Australia awards.
No. 23: Freney bags 8th gold in exhilarating relay
The women’s 4x100m medley relay 34 points in London could not have been closer, with Australia’s Jacqueline Freney touching the wall first for her eighth gold at the Games.
USA win World Sledge Hockey Challenge gold
USA defeated Canada, 1-0, for first place and Norway beat Japan, 5-0, for third place at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Calgary.
No. 24: UAE’s unexpected champion
UAE shooting athlete Abdullah Alaryani created the No. 24 moment of 2012 when he beat 28-time Paralympic medallist Jonas Jacobsson for gold.