The 2016 Central Parasport Festival was a great success, seeing 44 children with physical and sensory impairments taking part at Grangemouth Sports Complex. Pupils from P1 – S6 in mainstream schools travelled from across Central Scotland to take part in boccia, tennis, swimming, athletics, football, bowls and basketball delivered by local sports clubs, national coaches and GB athletes.
The event was a great triumph, with numbers doubling from previous years. Strong partnerships with Forth Valley Disability Sport, Active Stirling, Falkirk Community Trust and Clackmannanshire Council supported the identification of pupils attending this year’s event. A workshop was also held by Richard Brickley MBE for parents, PE teachers and Active Schools coordinators to gain additional insight into subjects such as disability inclusion, pathways and classification.
Inspirational speeches closed the event from local para athletes Laura Cluxton (2014 Commonwealth visually impaired cyclist) and Meggan Dawson Farrell (2014 Commonwealth wheelchair racer). These athletes hoped to inspire the next generation of athletes from the Central belt.
Cheryl Willet, Central Regional Development Manager, said: “The event was a great success and a worthwhile experience for not only many pupils engaging in sports they may never have tried before, but also their parents and teachers. The message is certainly getting out there that the pathway from participation to performance for athletes with a disability is in place within Central, from a local level to an international level. Most of all, it has been great to see so many pupils with a physical and sensory disability in mainstream schools engage in the sports, have fun, and potentially move up the pathway.”
A special thank you to Forth Valley Disability Sport, Active Stirling, Falkirk Community Trust, Clackmannanshire Council, Scottish Athletics, Tennis Scotland, Scottish Swimming, Basketball Scotland, Forth Valley Flyers, Right on Target Boccia Club, Falkirk indoor Bowling club, Falkirk Football Club, sportscotland and Grangemouth Sports Complex for their support.
To find out more about this event or disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact:
Cheryl Willet – cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360
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