Playground to Podium
Approximately one hundred disabled children from Northumberland and Tyne & Wear were at Gateshead Stadium on Tuesday 22 June and Thursday 24 June hoping to be the Paralympians of the future.
The 'Playground to Podium' events, which were organised by Tyne & Wear Sport, in partnership with Northumberland Sport, were part of a national initiative designed to identify disabled young people with the potential to be elite athletes and then guide them into clubs and coaching to nurture their talent.
At the events the young athletes took part in athletics, boccia, football, table tennis and wheelchair basketball. Those identified by the NGBs as having the necessary level of skill and ability will be given the opportunity to progress along the pathway to becoming a Paralympian. Also on hand to give an inspirational talk and practical advice were British Paralympians Eleni Papadopoulos and Stephen Miller.
The events were a great success. All of the participants seemed to enjoy the days and a number of them were identified as having the potential to become high level performers. There was an extremely positive response from the sports that were represented and hopefully one or two of the participants may go on to compete at a future Paralympic Games.
It is also just as important that those who took part have been motivated and inspired enough to continue their involvement in activities at any level so that they can enjoy many of the benefits that come from being active.
The young people taking part were selected to attend the events by school sport co-ordinators and PE teachers having shown higher ability in PE and sport at school.
