One year to go til the London 2012 Paralympic Games
Published on: 29th August 2011
As we approach the one year to go mark before the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, more and more opportunities are emerging in sport for disabled people across West Yorkshire. A number of local projects have been delivered in the districts over the last few months to introduce new activities and increase participation. These projects have been supported through the Sportivate programme and activities have included Goalball, Wheelchair Rugby League, Adapted Cycling and Karate.
Inclusion is at the heart of the planning for the School Games events in 2012 and this will also give us the chance to promote specific Paralympic sports to young people that might have never tried them before. We are also working to ensure that local providers have received the necessary training and guidance to provide inclusive sport and physical activity sessions.
There are many elite athletes from West Yorkshire hoping to make it through to the final Paralympics GB Team for the Games in 2012 (see list) and we also have a number of local officials and volunteers who have offered to support the Paralympic events. Also, Leeds recently hosted the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby team at the first of their pre-Games training camps based at the University of Leeds and they will be returning in April and August 2012 to aid their preparation for the Games.
To celebrate the ‘one year to go’ both Leeds and Wakefield have organised a range of taster activities and Paralympic sports events during the last week in August (see posters for more information). Kirklees Active Leisure is planning inclusive and dedicated sports sessions leading up to the Games as part of their KAL Games project and both Bradford and Calderdale have established regular activities through community clubs and organisations.
Throughout the next year, and beyond, we will continue to increase the opportunities for young people and adults with a disability to regularly take part in sport. This will include raising the profile and interest in taking part in community based sport and ensuring that the Sport England Legacy Plan (Places People Play) is fully accessible to people with a disability.
Important Dates:
- International Paralympic Day (Trafalgar Square, London) – Thursday 8th September 2011
- Paralympic ticket applications open on Friday 9th September 2011
Potential West Yorkshire Paralympic athletes:
Hannah Cockroft – Wheelchair Racing (Calderdale)
Harry Brown – Wheelchair Basketball (Calderdale)
Peter Finbow – Wheelchair Basketball (Kirklees)
Danielle Bailey – Swimming (Leeds, Otley)
Claire Cashmore – Swimming (University of Leeds)
David Stone – Cycling (Leeds)
Robin Womack – Athletics, Shot Putt (Wakefield)
Louise Simpson – Goalball (Wakefield)
Officials:
Sally Hall – Head of Paralympic Shooting classification (Wakefield)
