€10,000 Community Champions Award to fund VIP Hub’s first Laois Inclusion Games

The VIP Hub in Portlaoise will use its recent €10,000 People First Credit Union Community Champions Award to host the first Laois Inclusion Games, a two-day festival of para and inclusive sports on August 15th and 16th, 2026.

Speaking about the event to the Leinster Express/Laois Live, the Laois Sports Partnership said: "The Inclusion Games will take place in Laois, bringing communities together for two dedicated days of para sports on August 15 and 16.

"Hosted by the VIP Hub with the support of Laois Sports Partnership, the event will feature a wide range of sports delivered simultaneously across several locations throughout the county, creating opportunities for those involved to come together and showcase inclusive sport in their local areas. Celebrating participation, accessibility and community connection, the Inclusion Games will champion athletes with physical disabilities and visual impairments while highlighting Laois as a county that values inclusion and diversity in a sporting sense."

Launched in November 2025, the VIP Hub is Ireland’s first dedicated sports hub for visually impaired and physically disabled athletes. The hub offers tailored programmes in sports such as athletics, golf, swimming, soccer, tandem cycling, kayaking, canoeing, and javelin, supporting over 180 athletes and training more than 100 coaches and volunteers in disability awareness.

The initiative was created to address the lack of sporting opportunities for the 11,600 people in Laois with visual or physical impairments, fostering confidence, community engagement, and social connection. With support from national and local partners, including Vision Sports Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, Athletics Ireland, and Laois County Council, Portlaoise is set to become a vibrant centre for inclusive sport.

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