The Colleges and University Sports Association of Ireland (CUSAI) have announced the 26 athletes who will be competing at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China, August 12th to the 23rd.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Biwei and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Michael Ring TD were in attendance to meet the athletes as well as give encouragement in their medal quests. Ambassador Biwei opened the ceremony by welcoming the athletes and expressed his delight at the opportunities that the Games bring to Ireland. “With over 180 countries attending the games in Shenzhen, this is a chance for the athletes to be ambassadors for Ireland in China,” said Ambassador Biwei. “Shenzhen will be a place that they can win together, learn about each other and to understand others better as well as experience Chinese culture.”
Minister of State Michael Ring echoed the Chinese Ambassador as he expressed the honour of representing your country abroad. “Not only is it a great honour to represent Ireland but it is an even bigger honour to represent your country abroad.” “We want to wish these 26 athletes the very best of luck and hope they will be returning with medals in hand,” said Minister Ring. CUSAI Chairman, Kieran Dowd closed the ceremony by giving a special thanks to all those involved as the Irish Delegation and competitors are set to depart for Shenzhen beginning August 8th.
This event will mark the 26th International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer Universiade and 26 Irish athletes will be competing in six different sports including Archery, Athletics, Golf, Swimming, Taekwondo and Weightlifting. Ireland begins its medal quest on the 13th of August with weightlifter Kevin D’Arcy competing in the 85kg class in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk event. The following day will open the Archery and Swimming events with nine Irish athletes taking part. The official opening ceremony of the World University Games takes place on Friday, August 12th.
Full schedules are now available from the official Universiade 2011 Shenzhen website. A complete listing of the team Ireland athletes and competitions are below.
Archery
John Smith (Dublin Insitute of Technology)
Athletics
Amy Foster (University of Ulster Jordanstown)
Brendan Boyce (Leeds Metropolitan University)
Darren McBrearty (Dublin City University)
Jessie Barr (University of Limerick)
Justine Kenny (Loughborough University)
Kourosh Foroughi (Dublin City University)
Laura Reynolds (Dublin City University)
Micheál Doyle (University of Bedfordshire)
Golf
Emma O’Driscoll (University College Cork)
Louise Mernagh (National University of Ireland, Maynooth)
Lucy Simpson (National University of Ireland, Maynooth)
Barry Anderson (National University of Ireland, Maynooth)
John Greene (University College Dublin)
Kelan McDonagh (National University of Ireland, Maynooth)
Stephen Walsh (University College Dublin)
Swimming
Aisling Cooney (University College Dublin)
Bethany Carson (University of Ulster Jordanstown)
Fiona Doyle (University of Calgary)
Karl Burdis (Dublin City University)
Lorna Cummins (Loughborough University)
Ryan Harrison (University of Tennessee)
Niamh O’Sullivan (University College Dublin)
Niall Wynn (University College Dublin)
Taekwondo
Niamh Buffini (Insitute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin)
Weightlifting
Kevin D’Arcy (Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen)
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