Disabled young people enjoy Decathlon TOP Sportsability Festival

17 March 2008

Around 80 disabled young people from across Derbyshire enjoyed a range of inclusive activities at the first county-wide Decathlon TOP Sportsability Festival.

The young people took part in TOP Sportsability sports sessions in floor lacrosse, boccia, table cricket, T-ball and goal ball, before being presented with medals and certificates by Wimbledon Wheelchair Tennis Champion Jayant Mistry.

Jayant, the holder of 68 international career titles including Wimbledon Doubles and NEC Doubles Masters (World Championships) in 2005, attended the event at Moorways Sports Centre in Derby, watching the young people try different sports and chatting to them.

He also brought along his Wimbledon trophy - a silver plate - to show everyone.

He said: “It was a great event and all the young people were full of enthusiasm. It was really nice to see what's happening on the ground at a local level."

Supported by Decathlon Superstores with funding from the Youth Sport Trust, the aim of the event was to encourage disabled young people to take part in appropriate community-based sport.

A number of taster sessions were also held in the afternoon, including gym, football and wheelchair basketball, all of which were led by community providers.

Taking part were disabled young people from St Martins Special School, Aldercar Community Language College, St Andrews Special School, John Flamsteed Community School, St Benedict Catholic School and Performing Arts College, the Royal School for the Deaf, Bolsover School Sports Partnership and Chesterfield School Sports Partnership.

Derby East Partnership Development Manager Andy Cunningham said: "The kids loved it. The teachers also found it useful as it gave them the chance to meet other deliverers and make contacts so that they can arrange for them to come into the school and carry on the activities."

The Youth Sport Trust’s TOP Sportsability programme is specifically designed to create opportunities for young disabled people through specially designed resources and equipment.

TOP Sportsability focuses on the integration of disabled and non-disabled young people through a variety of sporting challenges.

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