Nine Parasport festivals will be held throughout Scotland over 2023/2024 season
Fife is the newest region in Scotland to be hosting a Parasport Festival, taking the number of festivals for this upcoming season to nine.
Grampian kicks-off the festival season (2023/2024) this coming Friday, 15th September where young people will be able to participate in at least eight sports, including: athletics, table tennis, snow sports, kayaking, swimming, target sports, lawn bowls and judo.
The Parasport Festivals provide an opportunity for school aged children with physical disabilities, hearing loss and vision impairments to try out disability sport. The festivals not only aim to provide young people with access to sport but also to act as a springboard for continued involvement in sport. This is achieved by highlighting throughout the day, clubs, events and sport organisations that are available locally.
From the nine Parasport Festivals that took place last year, an impressive 50% of participants attended for the first time.
“It is a great opportunity for people with disabilities to try new sports, meet friends and most of all show them that they can participate in sport”, said Loraine, a parent of a child that attended a Parasport festival last year.
The festivals provide a great opportunity to showcase disability sport and pathways to competitive sport, on a local and national scale.
“I have attended the West Parasport festival for a few years now and because of it I am now competing in wheelchair basketball and swimming. I enjoy it every year and looking forward to the next one,” said participant, Yannick Embley.
“Following on from the Parasport festival, I now play wheelchair basketball with Dundee Dragons which has enabled me to connect with other people, but the biggest thing is the fun from training and playing, keeping me fit”, commented Nathanael Scott, Parasport festival participant.
As Fife prepares to host their first festival, Gayle Sloan (SDS’ Regional Manager for Fife), said: “Parasport Festivals are such a special event for all involved. Bringing together participants, clubs, coaches and volunteers from across Fife to celebrate inclusivity, health and wellbeing and friendship. We’re so excited to be hosting our first ever Fife Parasport Festival and being part of this unique experience.”
The majority of Parasport festivals will take place in the first quarter of 2024. Fife’s festival will be held in February (date TBC) whilst the West (4th), Tayside (6th and 9th), Central (13th) and East (19th) will all take place throughout March. Dumfries and Galloway and Highland dates will be released at a later date.
For more information about the Parasport festivals and how to get involved, please email: admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or call: 0131 317 1130