For the tenth year running, Scottish Disability Sport hosted the West of Scotland Para-Sport Festival on Friday 8th March 2019 at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell.
Celtic FC Foundation’s ‘Inspiring Sport’ supported the event and SDS were delighted they were involved and were a part of this Para-Sport Festival this year. Celtic coaches also delivered football on the day.
The Para-Sport Festival focuses on pupils with a physical disability or visual impairment from mainstream schools – the age group is P6-S6. Schools from the 13 Local Authorities covering the West of Scotland were invited to attend.
One the day, 98 pupils from 54 schools across the West of Scotland took part in the festival with the support of teachers and Active Schools co-ordinators. For many, this will be their first experience of para-sport festivals and the start of their journey in accessing the psychological, social and health benefits of being active.
The pupils were put into groups with others with similar impairments, and given the opportunity to participate in the sports of basketball, boccia, athletics, football, power chair football, judo, tennis, table tennis, bowls and sitting volleyball.
SDS worked in partnership with Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport and highly experienced and qualified coaches who were coaching and leading sports on the day. Thanks to Tennis Scotland, Basketball Scotland, Table Tennis Scotland, JudoScotland, Badminton Scotland, Scottish Volleyball and Bowls Scotland who all supported the event, as well as club coaches from athletics and tennis.
Thanks also to the Young Ambassadors from St Mungo’s High School, Glasgow and St Peter the Apostle High School, Clydebank, and volunteers from Barclays. The day was also supported by Scottish Student Sport.
All attendees will be contacted after the event to try and engage them in local sport. It is hoped that through the event, talented athletes will be identified and then directed towards an appropriate sporting pathway which will allow the pupils to reach their full potential.
If you or someone you know has a disability and would like to get involved in disability sport, contact us on 0131 317 1130 or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.
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