By Emma Logan, Communications Manager
Disability Sport Fife welcomed 48 participants to their first ever Parasport Festival, on Thursday 22nd February.
The event allowed for children and young people with a physical, vision and hearing impairment to try boccia, athletics, swimming, basketball, football, badminton, paddle sports (canoe, kayak), cricket, tennis and water skiing before rounding off the day hearing from some elite Para athletes including Paralympian, Derek Rae.
It was an all-day event hosted at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre in Glenrothes. Following its conclusion, SDS’ Regional Development Manager for Fife, Gayle Sloan, said that there were, “a lot of happy faces. Lots of excitement. They (the participants) were having fun and that’s got to be the main thing. That’s what we wanted to achieve today and that’s what we did.”
One of the main objectives of SDS’ Parasport festivals is to attract new people along to further highlight all the sporting opportunities and physical activities available in their area.
42 out of the 48 participants had never attended a Parasport festival before. This included eight people who do not fully fully participate in PE at school.
Kirsty Byrne, Disability Sport Fife’s Branch Coordinator and Administrator, commented on this, saying: “There were a lot of new faces that we hadn’t seen before coming from across Fife so it will hopefully be great to see them at our competitions and some of our sessions throughout the week. It’s really nice to see new faces and make new connections and relationships in order to facilitate that participation within sport.”
Kimberley Smith accompanied her son Patrick, to the Parasport Festival. Despite Patrick already attending sport sessions at both Pitreavie and Michael Woods, the Parasport Festival was still beneficial.
“Everybody is the same but different and it’s [Parasport festival] so inclusive. Some good tips and tricks for moving forward in to other games and just learning. Learning all the time with things like this”, said Kimberley Smith.
She continued to comment on how their learnings from the day could be applied at Patrick’s school: “It will be good for the likes of the football and boccia and other things that he could learn at school because he’s the only wheelchair user in the school. So, to learn tips and tricks here and take it back to the school and teach the school things, is just good. He can see it, try it, test it and take it back.”
Maree Todd, the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport attended in the afternoon to see first-hand, the impact Parasport Festivals can have. “I really believe in the power of sport,” she said.
“This is a wonderful occasion. It’s a real celebration. There’s lots and lots of different clubs here who will carry on that relationship and that inclusion. It’s really powerful work that’s happening in here and everyone’s having a great time.”
(Maree Todd MSP’s full interview is available here.)
Athletics was one of the sports available to try on Thursday. Pamela Robson from Scottish Athletics led the athletics sessions in the morning and remarked on participants having already requested follow-up information on the sessions available in Fife.
“It’s amazing. It’s exactly what you want and that’s the whole point”, said Pamela.
“We wanted to do this today so that people could take part in sport in their local community. We don’t want children with a disability to have to travel an hour to find a club that’s inclusive”.
Disability Sport Fife are planning a second Parasport Festival at the end of the year but opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity are ongoing through a variety of clubs and sessions. If you would like more information on the opportunities in Fife, please contact Gayle Sloan at: gayle.sloan@scottishdisabilitysport.com
For opportunities available outside of Fife, please contact the relevant Regional Development Manager here.
To find out more about your region’s Parasport Festival, visit here.