Sport Unlimited marks Paralympic countdown

Young people with special educational needs have marked a significant milestone in the run up to the 2012 Paralympic Games opening in London.

With just 1000 days to go until Britain’s best Paralympians start competing on home soil, youngsters with learning difficulties from across north London were taking part in a sports session aimed at helping them make sport a regular part of their lives.

The session at the Vale School in Haringey was part of Sport England’s Sport Unlimited programme, which offers young people who are not yet playing regular sport in the community the freedom to choose the sports they would like to try.

The session, delivered by coaches from the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, saw the participants being taught a range of skills to give them the confidence to play sport including throwing, catching, co-ordination and team work. The coaches, including Danny Jarvis who himself has cerebral palsy and uses a powered wheelchair, use the sessions to spot talented youngsters who could go on to represent their borough in the London Youth Games and other sports events.

The Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, and Sport England’s Chief Executive, Jennie Price, joined the young people for their session.

“What I found so powerful today was seeing sports coaches from outside the school coming in and working closely with the children,” said Jennie Price. “You could tell by the buzz in the room that the youngsters were really enjoying themselves. The key to delivering high-quality sessions like this is finding the right coaches with the skills and understanding to inspire the next generation of budding participants.”

Sport Unlimited is making a major contribution to the Government’s pledge to give every young person the opportunity to take part in five hours of quality sport each week.

“Sport for all has to be much more than just a slogan,” said Gerry Sutcliffe. “Projects like this one run by Sport England are helping to make it a reality, encouraging young people with special needs to see how sport can be fun, healthy and rewarding – all in all, a valuable part of their lives.”

Over 250,000 five- to 19-year-olds have completed 10-week sports courses since Sport Unlimited started. Thousands of high-quality activities have already been delivered across a wide range of sports including football, climbing, skiing, kayaking and parkour.

During the three year programme, 900,000 young people are set to benefit from Sport Unlimited – helping to deliver a lasting participation legacy from London 2012.

Sport England launched the programme nationally last autumn after a successful trial in 12 areas. Early indications suggest that a third of the young people who have taken part in Sport Unlimited have gone on to join local sports clubs or continue their participation.