Jason inspires young athletes

Northern Ireland’s best disabled sports stars including Paralympic gold medallist, Michael McKillop, and World Disabled Waterski champion Janet Gray joined the Minister for Sport Nelson McCausland MLA at Parliament Buildings, Stormont last week for the Launch of Disability Sports NI’s ‘Be Active Be the Best’ Talent ID Programme, a new programme funded by Sport Northern Ireland which aims to identify the next generation of talented young disabled sports people in the build up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The launch of the programme, which will include a poster campaign, featuring inspirational images of local disabled sports people including Paralympic double gold medallist Jason Smyth, was organised to coincide with the milestone of ‘Two Years to Go’ to the end of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and was attended by London 2012’s Director of Paralympic Integration and former multiple Paralympic gold medallist, Chris Holmes.

During the launch, Chris Holmes said the new programme had been granted the prestigious London 2012 Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Games which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.

The ‘Be Active Be the Best’ programme was developed by Disability Sports NI to encourage more young disabled people to become more involved in sport, and to make talented young disabled sports people, their teachers and coaches more aware of the opportunities available in competitive sport.

The programme involves a ‘poster campaign’, featuring inspirational images of local disabled sports people which will be sent to every post primary school in Northern Ireland during September.

This will be followed by a ‘Talented Athlete Assessment Day’ planned for the 27th November 2010, during which talented young disabled people identified through the poster campaign, will be assessed by coaches from over ten sports and advised of the most appropriate competitive sports pathway available to them.

Anyone interested in recommending a talented disabled sports person to attend the ‘Talented Athlete Assessment Day’ or who would like further information about the ‘Be Active Be the Best’ Talent ID Programme should contact Disability Sports NI on 028 9038 7062 or [email protected]