NBA and baseball stars light up Limerick

LIMERICK welcomed all the stars this past week between top level athletes and reality show winners. 

The One-Zero event held in Engine on Friday included three time Super Bowl champion, Lonie Paxton, as well as retired NBA player Chris Evans and former baseball pitcher, Bud Norris. 

“I'm learning a lot and I think it's great, a look behind and what goes on in sport, so I think it's very, very necessary.

“I think that's what it's all about pushing the game forward and being able to be optimal, get optimal performance out of the athletes as well as they're wellbeing is important,” Chris Evans said. 

The SportsTech event saw sports industry professionals join with these retired stars as well as investors for a panel discussion followed by a competition where five startups entrepreneurs from Ireland and the UK got to pitch ideas to multiple investors. 

New 'effortless' bike scheme piloted in Castletroy to promote cycling across the city

Also in attendance was Bud Norris, former Major League baseball player, who said he was “absolutely excited to be in Ireland, but Limerick too, is awesome”.

Discussing the event taking place he added that: “to see where sports are going and to get to better products and kids' hands and everything else to move the game and every sport is exciting. So let's see what we have today. 

“Health and wellness: I think we're getting smarter and we need to innovate these things at a younger age, that our players are smarter and safer and healthier at a younger age, so that they can develop their skills and just be the best athlete,” he explained. 

Tracy Deforge, CEO of The Players’ Impact was the one responsible for getting these former international athletes to The Treaty County. 

“We're a professional organization for professional athletes, active, retired and Olympic level. And so we're bringing them opportunities to showcase their business attributes that they have, whether they're investing or entrepreneurs or in transition and trying to figure out what game is next,” she told the Limerick Leader.