Children in Bucks discover their personal podium in sport

More than 30 young people with disabilities came together on Saturday 31 July at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Buckinghamshire for the first ever Playground to Podium sports event. Selected by their schools to attend, in recognition of their higher ability in school sport and physical education, these young people took part in a range of sports including athletics, football and swimming. Representatives of the National Governing Bodies for each sport came to assess the young people, with several being selected for a regional squad and many more encouraged to join their local club. Welcoming the young people to the event was Paralympian Anna Turney. Anna, a Paralympic Alpine Ski Racer, finished 6th in the Vancouver Paralympics only four years after becoming paralysed whilst snowboard racing. Anna encouraged them all to explore their potential in their bid to be the best they can be. “Everything you do counts. I’m driven by my sport and I plan to bring home medals with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck!”

This Playground to Podium event is part of a programme led by Sport England (in partnership with the English Federation of Disability Sport), the Youth Sport Trust and Paralympics GB, to help create a clear and professional disability sport pathway from school to sport, through to club participation and on to elite performance. Organiser for the day, Patricia Brennan from Bucks Sport (a local organisation supporting people of all abilities to take part in and enjoy sport and physical activity), reflects: “It was a great success for everyone involved. We encouraged the young people to find their personal podium and to try and be the best they can be. Anna demonstrated that there are lots of exciting opportunities out there and to be brave in going for them. This national project will run again in the next academic year, so we are really looking forward to seeing how our talented young sports people get on.”

The performance of each of the young people participating was excellent, highlighting what exceptional sporting talent we have in the county. With disabilities ranging from physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, to learning disabilities and sensory impairment (such as visual or hearing impairment), they all competed in athletics, football, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and swimming. As one participant commented at the start of the day: “I’m so excited. I’ve been waiting all week for this.” And of course it was a fun day for all, with the highlight being the chance to chat with Anna and sit in her monoski which she races downhill at 70mph.

Following the day many of the young people will be encouraged to become a member of a local sports club, to make the most of opportunities on offer to develop their skills further and to participate in sport throughout their lives. In addition several participants were recommended for fast tracking to regional squads and will now have the chance to excel at their sport.

For more information about Playground to Podium in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire please contact Patricia Brennan, Disability Sports Development Officer, at Bucks Sport on pbrennan@buckssport.org or call 01296 585489.