NATIONAL CAMPAIGN: Athlete Jordan Lee from Killarney pictured in Dublin yesterday (Thursday) at the launch of Circle K's 'Here for Ireland' initiative. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

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By Michelle Crean

A giant billboard of a local sports figure appeared on Park Road yesterday (Thursday) – as part of a national campaign.

Locals may have seen the huge signage at the Railway bridge on Park Road of 19-year-old Para Athlete Jordon Lee, from Killarney, who was born with one hand.

Jordon, who is pursuing his high jump sporting dreams to get to the Tokyo Olympics 2020, yesterday joined athletes Ciara Mageean, Nicole Turner and Olympic hero Michael Carruth in Dublin for the launch of Circle K’s ‘Here for Ireland’ initiative.

Part of the initiative is that Circle K customers can now use the Circle K App or their loyalty tag in-store to generate digital coins that Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls can use to fuel their journey to the Tokyo 2020 Games.

It is estimated that approximately €250,000 worth of digital coins will be generated over the course of the initiative, all of which will be shared evenly amongst Team Ireland hopefuls.

The young Killarney athlete will compete at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai on November 13.

Not only has he won bronze in the 2018 European Para Athletics Championship, he is ranked second in the world in the IPC Paralympic World Rankings.

“As a Circle K ambassador, I’m delighted to be involved with the ‘Here for Ireland’ initiative assisting Irish Athletes and Para-athletes on the road to Tokyo 2020,” Jordon told the Killarney Advertiser.

“It would make a massive difference to the athletes if customers showed their support by scanning their Circle K App or ‘Play or Park’ loyalty tag, digital coins are generated which we can use in Circle K stores to help fuel our journey.”

His coach Tómas Griffin added that Jordon’s training for the World Para Athletics Championships is going great and he’s delighted to be featured on billboards and bus shelters all over the country and in Northern Ireland.

“Things are going great for him. His talent is incredible and I couldn’t ask anymore from him. For someone to appear on a billboard in their own town is huge.”