The multisport training camp in Northern Ireland, which will take place next June, forms part of a series of training camps being organised by Paralympics Ireland to prepare the country's hopefuls for next year's Games.

"We are delighted to announce that the Irish Paralympic Team will have its first ever training camp in Northern Ireland next June in the final build up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games," said Paralympics Ireland's chief executive Liam Harbison.

"The decision to use the fine facilities in Antrim has been on the back of the great work of Disability Sport Northern Ireland and Antrim Borough Council in ensuring the elite athletes preparation requirements will be matched by top class training venues in Northern Ireland."

Three further camps sponsored by Renault Ireland are planned at the University of Limerick as well as the final pre-Games holding camp in Coimbra, Portugal, from where the Irish Team will travel to London.

This is the first time that Paralympics Ireland will hold one of its training camps in the North.

Making the announcement on the training camp, Northern Ireland Assembly's Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said: "I welcome the news that Paralympics Ireland have decided to use the facilities in the North for their pre-Games training.

"It comes at a time of building excitement around the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"I hope these facilities will be the springboard to Paralympic achievement and medal-winning performances at the Games."

Disability Sports NI chair and Paralympic medallist Angela Hendra added: "We are delighted at this announcement that the Irish Paralympic Team for London 2012 will hold a pre-Games training camp in Northern Ireland.

"The camp, like the recent 2011 Boccia World Cup held at Jordanstown, is just one of a series of camps, tournaments and education projects being held in Northern Ireland in the build up to London 2012, all designed to help Disability Sports NI in its development work, by getting the message out there that people with disabilities have abilities and talents like everyone else in society, and can and indeed do lead full and active lives."

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe also welcomed the announcement, saying: "Pre-Games preparations are vital to allow every athlete to compete to their very best on the world's biggest sporting stage.

"Every time I have visited Northern Ireland I am struck by its passion for sport and London 2012, so I know Paralympics Ireland have made a great choice.

"This is real recognition for the quality of Northern Ireland's facilities and I look forward to it leaving a legacy for the people of Antrim too."

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