Like all National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), Paralympics Ireland will be allocated a number of volunteers in the role of NPC assistants for the duration of the team's stay in Rio de Janeiro.

The programme offers an opportunity for an NPC to identify certain individuals that it wishes to request to fill the role of NPC assistant.

Paralympics Ireland says it ideally wants to offer opportunities to locals from Rio with Irish heritage or connections.

International volunteers are also welcome, however, they will be responsible in full for their own travel and accommodation arrangements and costs.

Paralympics Ireland is looking for committed and proactive individuals who value teamwork, diversity and inclusion, and are energetic and responsible.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over by February 2016, be competent in English and ideally be able to speak Portuguese.

They must also be available from August 31 to September 21 2015.

The Rio 2016 Paralympics are due to take place from September 7 to 18.

Once selected, individuals are required to commit to a Rio 2016 Selection and Training Process.

Michael McKillop will hope to be be one of the athletes representing Ireland at Rio 2016 following his two gold medals at London 2012 ©Getty Images



As part of the role, Paralympics Ireland says volunteers will be the "eyes and ears" of Team Ireland and become a key part of the team during the Games, as well as meeting some of Ireland's biggest Paralympic stars,including double Paralympic and world champions Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop.

Smyth and McKillop won four of eight gold medals for Ireland at London 2012, where cyclist Mark Rohan also secured two golds, while swimmers Darragh McDonald and Bethany Firth won Paralympic titles of their own.

For more information on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Volunteer Programme and to register for it, click here.

The application process is now open and closes on November 15.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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