With only days to go, the organisers of the IMART Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup are looking for supporters in the Cork area to attend the event.
The tournament which will host an estimated 25,000 players and spectators across the week, will be a 6-day long affair, and organisers say they need people on the ground to support the teams, travelling from all over the world to showcase all that Cork has to offer as a sporting host.
This will be the 3rd edition of the worldwide Mixed Ability rugby showcase promoted by International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS), and supported by the IRFU.
In the region of 1,100 players both with and without disabilities, from 14 countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Argentina and Poland, will come together to play rugby under same World Rugby laws as the XV-a-side game with only minor adaptations, such as uncontested scrums.
TRAILBLAZERS PARTICIPATING
This year’s event is made extra special by the fact that it will host the first ever KPMG sponsored Women’s Mixed Ability Rugby tournament, with our own Ballincollig Trailblazers competing for the title. The Ballincollig Trailblazers are the first ever Irish Women’s mixed ability team, and are captained by Marie Healy.
IMART have also announced that Smurfit Kappa, world leader in innovative, sustainable packaging, has come on board as headline sponsors of the event.
Speaking of what lies ahead in preparation for IMART, Liam Maher, co-founder IMART 2022 said:
“The event is really taking shape. There’s huge excitement within the IMART camp here in Cork, but also amongst the teams from around the world who are travelling here to take part in a tournament that celebrates diversity and inclusion in sport. We have live music, mixed ability sports and matches on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in Cork and the event is very much family friendly.
“What we need now the people of Cork to come out and cheer on the players, in what promises to be, one of the most inspirational sports events ever to come to this country. We have already received huge support from people throughout the country, and this is the final push for supporters. Responsibilities will range from general volunteers to translators, who will support the 14 teams competing across the week.”
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
The Mixed Ability Model – championed by IMAS – encourages social inclusion by removing barriers to participation for people who feel unable to join mainstream grassroots clubs or groups due to physical or learning disabilities, mental health issues, size, shape, age, prolonged inactivity, or a perception of ‘not being good enough’.
It is hoped that the IMART Tournament in Cork will enhance interest, participation and interaction of people of all abilities in the sport across Ireland and beyond, and help to build new connections between grassroots clubs, educational institutions, communities and local authorities.
Running from Sunday, June 5th to Friday, June 10th in Cork, attendees for the event are invited to book their free tickets at https://www.imartworldcup.org/
