During the event children from Oakgrove College and local primary schools heard about the benefits of disability sport from Disability Sports NI Chairperson and former Paralympic gold medalist Angela Hendra MBE, before getting the opportunity to ‘have a go’ at the Paralympic sports of Wheelchair Basketball, Goalball and Boccia.
Speaking to the children the Minister said: “Today marks the start of an exciting four year journey for people of all ages in the UK, but particularly children and young people who are at the heart of everything we do. The 2012 Paralympic handover is about the whole of the UK coming together to celebrate London becoming the Paralympic Host City and the UK becoming the Paralympic Host nation.
“Paralympic Handover day is a great chance to start thinking about the values of the Paralympic Games - inspiration, determination, courage and equality - all of which I see here in the faces of the young people trying out new sports.”
Congratulating local Paralympian medal winners, the Minister said: “Paralympians from Northern Ireland have done us proud. Jason Smith and Michael McKillop are heroes of the hour with their tally of gold medals. Unfortunately Karen Cromie was pipped at the post in the double sculls but she will join the others as they become role models who will inspire the next generation of paralympians from Northern Ireland. I wish them all well.”
Speaking at the event Angela Hendra MBE said: “The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be great for disability sport. They will raise public awareness of disability sport and will encourage and inspire the next generation of young disabled people in Northern Ireland to lead an active lifestyle through sport. But of course it’s about more than sport. The games will give us a unique opportunity to change commonly held negative attitudes about people with disabilities.’
Also in attendance was one of Ireland’s best known disabled athletes, four times world disabled waterski champion, Janet Gray MBE.
Notes to Editors:
- The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) aims for young people in schools, colleges and local authorities across the UK to lead celebrations and to welcome the world to the UK.
- On 16 June 2008, LOCOG issued a media release formally inviting schools, colleges and other learning institutions across the UK to lead the UK celebrations around the Paralympic Handover on 17 September 2008.
- A new website and resources were launched to help children and young people make their plans for marking the moment the Paralympic Flag is handed from the Mayor of Beijing to the Mayor of London.
- LOCOG issued all schools, colleges and local authorities (including Northern Ireland) a Paralympic Handover pack. Schools were invited to register their details on the website and share their ideas for celebration activities.
- The celebrations in schools and colleges on the 17 September 2008 will launch London 2012’s domestic education programme, called ‘Get Set’ which will ‘go live’ on18 September 2008.
- All media enquiries to DCAL Press Office on 028 9025 8902 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
