Garryduff Primary rise to the Disability Sports Challenge!

The innovative programme is being funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and supported by the Department of Education, and aims to contribute to the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by increasing children’s awareness and understanding of disability.

The project involves disabled sportspeople making awareness raising presentations in primary schools, as well as giving children the opportunity to participate in five disability sports challenges, each based on a Paralympic sport. By doing so the project hopes to challenge commonly held negative attitudes about people with disabilities, and to inspire and encourage more disabled and non disabled children to become more active in sport.

The project will involve at least 100 primary schools throughout Northern Ireland in the build up to the London 2012 Games. The project was recently granted the prestigious London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.

Angela Hendra MBE, Chairperson Disability Sports NI said, “We are simply delighted with the Five Star Challenge Education Project and are happy that Garryduff Primary School have so enthusiastically come on board. We know the project will showcase disability sport in a very positive way, challenge negative attitudes, and will inspire both disabled and non disabled children to participate and excel in sport.”

Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said, “The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like the Five Star Challenge are enabling people in Northern Ireland to make positive life changes.”

Disability Sports NI will be running the ‘5 Star Disability Sports Challenge’ in primary schools throughout Northern Ireland up to 2012. For more information on the project contact DSNI on 028 9038 7062 or [email protected]