Scottish Disability Sport: Reflections on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

The Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 did not disappoint as the event proved to be both hugely inspirational and successful.

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) wish to congratulate ParalympicsGB on the tremendous performances at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and we hope to see more people with a disability feeling inspired to take up sport as we head into the Tokyo 2020 cycle.  Well done to all the athletes, players and support staff who proved they are amongst the very best performance athletes in the world.  There were many outstanding results, incredible role models and remarkable stories played out during the past 11 days.  A full list of results can be found at www.rio2016.com/en or www.paralympics.org.uk

ParalympicsGB will return from Rio with 64 gold medals, which equates to 12% of all gold medals
awarded and the best performance since Tel Aviv in 1968.  The total medal count of 147 is the highest return from a British team since the Paralympic Games in Seoul in 1988.  The exceptional performances of the athletes ensured that the 121 medal target set by UK Sport was comfortably surpassed as ParalympicsGB finished second in the medal table behind China.

A Scottish Perspective

SDS pays tribute to the 33 Scottish athletes that competed for ParalympicsGB across 12 sports, all of whom made a significant contribution to the overall success of the team, ensuring that the GB team are amongst the world’s elite in para sport.  Scottish athletes and players on the ParalympicsGB team can be immensely proud of their contribution as they will return home with a total of seventeen medals which were won by eleven athletes across five sports.  Notably 33% of Scots on ParalympicsGB reached the podium!  The medal haul includes five gold, eight silver and four bronze medals, accounting for 11.5% of ParalympicGB medals won.  This is the highest medal tally for Scots at a Paralympic Games since Sydney 2000.

The table shows the performance of each of the five sports:

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games: Scottish Medal Table
Sport	Gold	Silver	Bronze	TOTAL
Athletics	3	2	2	7
Cycling	1	1	0	2
Para triathlon	0	1	0	1
Swimming	0	3	2	5
Wheelchair Tennis	1	1	0	2
TOTAL	5	8	4	17

 

Scottish Medal Winners

Gold
Libby Clegg (Athletics): T11 100m
Libby Clegg (Athletics): T11 200m
Jo Butterfield (Athletics): F51 Club Throw
Karen Darke (Cycling): H1-2-3 Time Trial
Gordon Reid (Wheelchair Tennis): Open Singles

Silver
Stef Reid (Athletics): T44 Long Jump
Maria Lyle (Athletics): T35 4x100m relay
Neil Fachie (Cycling): B 1000m Time Trial
Alison Patrick / Hazel Smith (Guide) (Para Triathlon): PT5
Scott Quin (Swimming): SB14 100m Breaststroke
Abby Kane (Swimming): S13 100m Backstroke
Andrew Mullen (Swimming): S5 50m Backstroke
Gordon Reid (Wheelchair Tennis): Open Doubles

Bronze
Maria Lyle (Athletics): T35 100m
Maria Lyle (Athletics): T35 200m
Andrew Mullen (Swimming): S5 200m Freestyle
Andre Mullen (Swimming): S5 100m Freestyle

For a full list of Scottish results please click here.

Once again the Scots excelled on the Paralympic stage whilst making a significant contribution to the medal tally of ParalympicsGB, with eleven Scots reaching the podium.  These athletes produced many memorable highlights over the course of the Games however, the double gold from Libby Clegg in the T11 100m and 200m stands out; as does Gordon Reid’s gold and silver medals in the wheelchair tennis singles and doubles respectively.  Maria Lyle (athletics) and Andrew Mullen (swimming) won the most medals with three apiece, whilst ParalympicsGB’s youngest competitor Abby Kane, aged 13, won silver in the S13 100m Backstroke!

There were many inspirational moments throughout the course of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and SDS congratulate all of our athletes and support staff.

Any person with a disability who has been inspired by events in Rio should contact SDS on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

In addition, local and regional contacts can be accessed on the following links:

SDS Branches:

https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/about-sds/branch-contacts/

Regional Development Managers:

https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/regional-managers/

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Classification is not unique to disability sport and is simply a structure for competition. In mainstream sports such as boxing, weightlifting and judo athletes are categorised by weight classes. In disability sport athletes and players are grouped into classes determined by their degree impairment. Sport specific classifiers determine that an athlete is eligible and then allocate a sports class.

The International Paralympic committee (IPC) recognises six different disability groups. These are:

• Amputees
• Athletes with cerebral palsy
• Blind or visually impaired athletes
• Spinal cord injured athletes
• Athletes with an intellectual/learning disability

Other athletes (les autres) with a physical disability who do not fit into any of the above five groups.

IPC Layman’s Guide to Classification

Divisioning in Disability Sport

Intellectual Impairment Classification Policy

The British Paralympic Association and Home Country Associations (Scottish Disability Sport in Scotland) take the lead from the IPC in recognising eligible sports participants.

Each IPC sport has processes and procedures for classification which conform to guidelines laid down by the IPC. Each sport has a well trained international team of classifiers drawn largely from a medical, physiotherapy or sports technical background. Classifiers operate in panels of two/three and include a representative from each professional group within each panel.

An athlete’s class is determined by a physical and technical assessment and observation in and out of competition. Classification is an ongoing process. On entry to international competition new athletes will carry the status (N). Athletes whose classification is under review because their impairment is progressive or classifiers are still undecided will carry the status (R). Athletes whose class has been confirmed will have a status (C). Some athletes are reviewed over many years and athletes with the (C) status sometimes have their class reviewed if new information becomes available.

Classes are defined by each sport and form part of the sport rules. Individual sports have the responsibility for the education and training of classifiers. Classifiers are now largely sport specific whereas at one time they covered several sports.

At the Commonwealth Games there are events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD). Prior to each Games it is decided which sports will offer EAD events. In the major sports of swimming and athletics EAD athletes compete under their own IPC international class against the world record of that specific class. The athlete closest to the world record is judged the winner of the event.

At the Commonwealth Games there are events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD). Prior to each Games it is decided which sports will offer EAD events. In the major sports of swimming and athletics EAD athletes compete under their own IPC international class against the world record of that specific class. The athlete closest to the world record is judged the winner of the event.

Monday 15th August saw the success of the Athletics Inclusion Workshop hosted by SDS, Grangemouth Stadium and scottishathletics. Fourteen enthusiastic coaches, teachers and volunteers attended the 3-hour practical workshop which included topics such as disability inclusion and increasing technical knowledge in aspects such as race running, wheelchair racing and seated throws.

SDS would like to thank Shona Malcolm OBE of scottishathletics for tutoring the workshop.

For more information on disability athletics or coach education within Central Scotland please contact Cheryl Willet, Scottish Disability Sport Regional Manager, on 07577 830 360 or cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

 

The first Cycling Without Age Pilot Training Course will be held at at Larbert High School on Tuesday 30th August. There will be two sessions, with about six spaces in each slot. If you are interested or would like to find out more please contact Fraser Johnston on FJ17@sky.com.

 

Scottish Borders Disability Sport Group (SBDSG) are hosting their 2^nd Borders Boccia Open Competition on Saturday 1^st October and is open for players of all ages with a physical or learning disability across the country. For most players this will be the last opportunity to sharpen up their skills in a competitive environment prior to the Scottish Boccia Open.  The competition will be delivered in partnership with LIVE BORDERS (LB) and Scottish Disability Sport (SDS).

The details of the competition are below –

Event: Borders Boccia Open Competition 2016

Venue: Queens Leisure Centre, Galashiels TD1 2AE

Date: Saturday 1^st October 2016

Time: 10am – 4.00pm (approx.)

Entry: £5

Please see BOCCIA OPEN COMPETITION Entry Form.

As with other Scottish Disability Sport Boccia events, we rely on dedicated volunteers to officiate matches to ensure the success of the competition.  Also attached is Match Referee Volunteer Request for anyone who is able to support this event.

If you require further information, please contact Alan Oliver on the details below.

All forms should be returned to Alan Oliver, LIVE BORDERS, Melrose Road, Galashiels, TD1 2DU, aoliver@liveborders.org.uk – 07887 471 137 or 01896 661166.

 

This workshop supports swimming teachers and coaches to ensure deaf young people are fully included in swimming activities. Teachers and coaches will learn how to make small & simple changes to make activities deaf-friendly and develop confidence communicating with deaf children and young people. Teachers will also learn basic British Sign Language and lots of swimming specific signs.

Training will cover:

• The impact of deafness on young people
• Communication methods
• How to adapt your activities
• Tips for welcoming deaf children
• Guidance on engaging with deaf children in your area
• Fingerspelling
• BSL specific to swimming lessons

Date: Sunday 11 September 2016

Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm

Venue: Gordon Centre (Sport Aberdeen), Corunna Road, Aberdeen AB23 8DU

Cost:   Free

Complete and return the Making Swimming Deaf-Friendly Booking Form to Eleanor Connelly: swimming@ndcs.org.uk 0141 354 7850

N.B. This is for swimming teachers/coaches only – not suitable for lifeguards, duty mangers, etc.