Baron Pierre de Coubertin (The inspiration of the modern Olympic movement) was quoted in 1824 as saying:
“ The most important thing about the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well ”

Paralympians are living examples of people who have triumphed over adversity and who have indeed fought well. Few people can fail to be moved by an athlete who is missing limbs sprinting faster than most of us can move!

It is to this ideal that young disabled people and not so young disabled people should be guided. Thus the concept of ParaSport is to create a sports academy for disabled athletes in an attempt to bring people into disabled sport who might otherwise be exluded and to give them the opportunity to ‘fight well’

Parasport is a joint initiative between the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and the professional services firm Deloitte. Deloitte are investing £1.7 million in the UK between now and 2012 as well as doubling the financial support available to disabled competitors through he national Talent Athlete Scholarship Scheme assisting 500 disabled athletes to progress to world class performance.

So what sports are there for me?

Parasport provides information on the 23 sports presently forming part of the Paralympic movement. However there are simply hundreds of other sports that disabled people can participate in.. Below is an incomplete (but growing list) of sports available for disabled athletes;

Alpine skiing
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Beach volleyball
Bowling
Cross-country skiing
Curling
Cycling
Football
Handball
Ice hockey
Judo
Karate
Orienteering
Shooting
Snowboard
Swimming
Table tennis
Tae kwon do
Tennis
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling
Archery
Alpine Skiing
Athletics
Adapted Rowing
Boccia
Cycling
Equestrian
Football - CP & VI
Handcycling
Goalball
Ice Sledge Hockey
Judo
Nordic Skiing
Powerlifting
Sailing
Shooting
Sitting Volleyball
Swimming
Table Tennis
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Curling
Wheelchair Fencing
Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Tennis
Alpine skiing
Aquatics
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Bocce
Bowling
Cross-country skiing
Cycling
Equestrian
Figure skating
Floor hockey
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Powerlifting
Roller skating
Sailing
Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Softball
Speed skating
Table tennis
Team handball
Tennis
Volleyball
Blind cricket
Blind golf
Electric wheelchair football
Electric wheelchair hockey
Golf

Wheelchair baseball
Wheelchair hockey
Wheelchair skateboarding

Whilst the project has been driven by the body responsible for the ‘elite’ end of disability sport it is important to mention that the Parasport project is open to all abilities not just the stars of the future. Put simply the aim for this project is to reach out to all disabled people who want to play sport, at whatever standard, and make sure they get to play!

For information on events, taster sessions,. Coaching and volunteering visit   http://www.parasport.org.uk/default.asp