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Adrian Warner

Paralympics seeking out new talent


The other day I spent a fascinating morning watching able-bodied children sit down in wheelchairs and try out Paralympic sport.

The coaches organising the wheelchair basketball session were disabled and some of the kids involved also had disabilities.

But the training session in Hackney in east London did more to teach able-bodied people about the challenges - AND FUN - of Paralympic sport than anything I have seen for a long time.

It was all part of initiatives up and down the country marking the handover of the Paralympic flag to London following the Beijing Games.

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Thousands of children were involved in other events where children got the chance to have a go at Olympic and Paralympic sports.

At last, local authorities are using the Games to encourage kids to take up sport -- the key promise of London's bid. One event in Hertfordshire had every school representing a country so there was an extra educational aspect to the sporting action.

The challenge now is to take the enthusiasm generated from Beijing into our dark, wet winter in the next few months.

East London is having another Paralympic day in October where disabled children will get a chance to try out different sports. That is part of seeking out new talent for 2012 and beyond.

But these kind of "Olympic and Paralympic Days" need to become commonplace across the country in the next four years. The key to their success is also providing a link to clubs in every town and city so that parents discover where they can find a judo or an archery club.

Sometimes things are happening around the corner from where you live and you don't know they exist.

That means joined-up thinking from government and local authorities, inviting representatives of clubs to attend the Olympic days and tell parents about the sessions they run.

Away from my work, I coach youngsters to play rugby. I don't believe in this notion that all kids of the 21st century want to do is sit in front of computers. Give them a game to play outside and they will play it with the same competitive edge and determination that we had as children.

Britain simply needs to get organised EVERYWHERE - and put the coaches and events in place to inspire them through 2012.

Adrian Warner is BBC London's Olympics correspondent. Our FAQs should answer any questions you have.


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  • 1. At 6:31pm on 26 Sep 2008, russcoppack wrote:

    During the Olympics these Blogs were generating much comment. I've scrolled through the most recent Olympic Blogs and there is hardly any comment. Seems that the Great British public has already shifted their attention to the Premiership. Same old story, the chance of maintaining interest in Kayaking, Archery, Rowing, Sailing and Paralympic Sport between now 2012 is nil, zilch, non, no chance! Your average man in the street is not interested in these sports, they are interested in the olympics as an event and that is why there is such a swell of interest during the Games themselves - but afterwards....nothing! It will be very interesting to see how much interest there is in the 'delayed' parade of medal winners in Oct. I reckon if the authorities would have held it on the day the team landed back in the UK, people would have skipped work in their droves to attend - now - not a chance of them even turning the telly on to watch!

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  • 2. At 10:22am on 29 Sep 2008, DrCajetanCoelho wrote:

    Very nice blog Adrian.

    Disability Studies and Disability Sports are enjoying tremendous visibility and success in Britain.

    Not so long ago I had an opportunity to participate in a Workshop on Disability Studies at an University in Norway. It was a fine gathering of the so called "able-bodied" and "differently-abled" scholars from Norway, UK, India, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, US, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands. There were brilliant presentations based on field work, participant observations and sharing of one's own life experiences. Among the participants there were also a few differently-abled athletes and sports persons.

    I read all these Paralympics blogs and find them fascinating. Indeed disabilities have seeds of worldmaking. Differently- abled persons when given space and opportunities come up with extraordinary and breath taking performances.

    Our Planet ruled and controlled by the so called able-bodied people have few opportunities for the differently-abled. A handful of universities in the UK, US, Scandinavia, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands conduct degree courses and research programs on Disability Studies. The rest of Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia continue to be many steps far behind, though not all on the same level.

    In India we have our Anandwan, a unique project of empowerment and emancipation of the differently-abled, started by the late Baba Amte, some six decades ago. Our differently-abled cricketers have been winning cups, trophies and shields at the District and State level competitions regularly.

    Multi-faceted cricketers at Anandwan excel in their batting, fielding, bowling, catching, throwing and wicket-keeping. Their inspiring role model is the legendary Indian cricketer Saurav Ganguly whose awesome mental strength and positive attitude they love to discuss and when possible even emulate in their own way in their day to day lives. His fearless hitting of gorgeous sixes in the off-side and spirit of perseverance to make repeated come-backs in the national team continue to inspire many differently-abled sportspersons and even others at Anandwan.

    Regarding the differently-abled persons and their meaningful contribution in life, the revered visionary and founding father of Anandwan, the late Baba Amte used to say:

    "Provide them space and opportunities,
    Never make them victims of charity,
    Charity destroys,
    Work builds" !


    Let us wish all our athletes an injury-free preparatory period and a jolly good time at the next Oly Games in London !




    Dr. Cajetan Coelho

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