Disabled sports gets a boost
Britain’s greatest paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson
joined residents to mark International Day of Disabled People at
Mile End Park Leisure Centre on December 3.
Tower Hamlets Council organised a sports bonanza to encourage
disabled residents to get active with community groups and sports
club taking part.
At the event Sport England announced a fund of £10.2 million to
be shared across projects around the country to make sports more
inclusive.
The Inclusive Sport fund will tackle the opportunity gap that
sees one in six disabled adults playing sport regularly, compared
to one in three non-disabled adults.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “This funding will go a long
way to helping those inspired by the outstanding performances of
our Paralympians this summer to get out and try sport for
themselves.
“It’s fantastic to see such a wide range of organisations
benefitting – all of them focused on helping more disabled people
to discover how much sport has to offer.”
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “The Sport England
grant will go a long way to opening up sports for all.
“It is only right that disabled residents should have the same
opportunity to access sports and I comment the work of all of
sports groups who are working to break down barriers.”
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England said: “We have
one simple aim with this investment: to make sport a viable choice
for disabled people, young or not, talented or not.”
The council is a partner in a successful bid of £564,304 to
create Paralympic Legacy Ambassadors and develop accessible
equipment and multi sports club.
The collaborative project between the London Legacy Development
Corporation, Pro-Active East London, five of the Olympic and
Paralympic Host Boroughs, Greenwich Leisure Limited, WheelPower and
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Together East will deliver a
multi-sport participation programme culminating in an annual
festival of disability sport on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The funding will pay for portable sports equipment giving
disabled people the chance to get involved at times and places that
suit them.
The project will also recruit disabled people as ambassadors for
sport as well as working directly with venues, facilities and clubs
to improve their sports offer.
Access Sport based in the borough, has been given £390,000 to
develop a national project to raise awareness of disabled
sports.
December 10, 2012