Orla Comerford and Colin Judge have been selected to carry the flag for Team Ireland at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Comerford, a T13 100m sprinter, is set to compete in her third Paralympic Games after making her debut at the Rio 2016 Games. She recently achieved a new personal best by running the 100m in under 12 seconds. She will also participate in London this weekend as part of her final preparations for Paris. Comerford has previously won a bronze medal at the European Championships and narrowly missed a medal with a fourth-place finish at the most recent World Championships.
Judge, a table tennis player, will be participating in his second Paralympic Games. Unlike his debut in Tokyo, which took place with spectators, Judge will experience the vibrant atmosphere of Paris. This season, he has advanced to the later stages of several competitions, including securing a bronze medal at the European Championships and a silver medal at the Czech Open.
The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is set to be held at the PlacePlacea Concorde on August 28, marking the first time the event will be hosted outside the main stadium. Ireland will have 35 athletes competing across nine sports at the Games.
Neasa Russell, the chef de mission for Team Ireland, commended Comerford and Judge for their hard work and dedication. “These athletes represent the high standards and commitment required to excel at this level,” Russell said. “They are exemplary leaders and will be great role models for both the team and the audience at home.”
