The Grampian region was delighted to welcome 51 participants to this year’s annual Parasport Festival for school-aged pupils with physical & sensory impairments.
The event, held at Aberdeen Sports Village, saw a 71% increase in attendance compared to the 2018 Festival and was the best-attended Festival in Grampian since the shift to focus on participants with physical, visual and hearing impairments from mainstream education who are often greatly underrepresented in sport.
This year’s Festival focused on 8 sports – specially chosen to enable ongoing participation in community sessions in Grampian and to suit the abilities and disability types of those attending: Football; Athletics; Boccia; Table Tennis; Wheelchair Basketball; Bowls; Swimming; and Badminton.
Additionally, this year marked the first Grampian event to feature both a coordinated VIP presentation & tour for key stakeholders and a workshop for parents and teachers to learn more about the athlete journey and the work of SDS. The parent/teacher workshop also featured an inspirational talk by Gary Clow, parent of Grampian Commonwealth Games para athlete, Lewis.
The event would not have been possible for the 50+ amazing volunteers & helpers from Active Schools Aberdeenshire, Active Schools Aberdeen, Live Life Aberdeenshire, Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club, Grampian Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Club, Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club, Aberdeen & District Table Tennis Association, Scottish Swimming, Scottish Disability Sport, Scottish Student Sport, BasketballScotland, regional athlete ambassadors, and the wider sports development network. We’re also really thankful for the parents & teachers who took the time to bring along the children they care for.
Initial feedback from the event suggests that the children and adults thoroughly enjoyed & benefitted from the event, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2020 event, which is set to take place in early September.
If you live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray (or know someone who does) and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.
Photo courtesy of Marie Gilbert