Stoke Mandeville hosts young participants in Festival of Sport
15 May 2012by Jamie Blair
The listing was posted by Disability Sport Events
In the week before 100 days to go to the London Paralympic Games, Stoke Mandeville Stadium- the home of the Paralympic movement- will welcome young disabled people to try out a variety of sports. The Festival of Sport on 16-17 May is not only a chance for children with all impairments to be talent spotted by sports bodies, but also an opportunity to enjoy activities and get a taste for sport.
Delivered by Disability Sport Events (DSE), the Festival of Sport South will also include the Panathlon Challenge and the RFU MLD Tag Rugby Finals. The disabled children aged 6-16 years old have entered as individuals and schools from all over the UK.
Many of the schools attending are eager for their pupils to begin their own individual journeys in sport, to find out which ones they enjoy and could develop a relationship with. To support their choices, a number of sessions run by coaches from governing bodies of sport have been set up, in addition to competitions in athletics, table tennis, boccia and swimming.
On Wednesday 16 May, the Panathlon Challenge brings together four new teams from the local area along with four development teams from London. The Challenge itself aims to deliver more opportunities for profoundly impaired disabled children, bringing together teams in multi sport competitions. RFU continue their partnership with the Festival and host their MLD Tag Rugby Finals on the same day. Teams from across the country will compete for the National MLD Tag Rugby Winners.
Both the Panathlon Challenge and Tag Rugby are free to spectate.
Sponsored by Unite Foundation for the seventh year, the Festival introduces sport in a environment of team work and fair play- against the back drop of the inspirational Paralympic movement home. DSE would like to thank the Foundation for the support it has given to develop the Festivals for many years.
Other partners include Stoke Mandeville Stadium and Water Direct. The Panathlon Challenge is delivered by the Panathlon Foundation.