Children as young as three have been competing in paralympic-style games as part of the country's biggest inclusive school sports competition.
Pre-school children of all abilities who attend children’s centres in London kicked off the week with a special day for children’s centres on Friday.
Children aged three and above took part in a number of paralympic games including New Age Kurling, an indoor version of the original curling game, and Boccia, a game where players throw leather balls, with the aim of getting their ball as close to a white target ball or jack.
This year was the first year that children under five were invited to take part in the annual event, organised by the Learning Trust, who run the education service in Hackney.
This week (10-14 October) more than 2,000 primary and secondary school children from the six host boroughs for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will come together to compete against each other in paralympic sports. The teams, which will be made up of children with and without Special Educational needs, will take part in sports such as wheelchair basketball, goalball and archery.
For the first time, pupils will get the chance to play visually impaired football taught to them by coaches from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham football clubs.
Children will also receive coaching from paralympians, including Dervis Konulrap, 2012 wheelchair basketball hopeful Helen Turner, and representatives from the British Wheelchair Basketball Association.
Steve Belk, acting chief executive of the Learning Trust, said, ‘As we get ever closer to 2012, it’s vital that we take every opportunity to inspire our young people with the spirit of the Games and show everyone can take part in sport, whatever their ability. We hope this will encourage more schools to ensure their PE lessons are as inclusive as possible.’
Mark Goldring, chief executive of Mencap, said, ‘We are delighted that children with a learning disability will be competing alongside other school children in this inclusive event. Events like this are important as they open up sport for children of all abilities and they are an important step towards promoting equality.’
Children aged three and above took part in a number of paralympic games including New Age Kurling, an indoor version of the original curling game, and Boccia, a game where players throw leather balls, with the aim of getting their ball as close to a white target ball or jack.
This year was the first year that children under five were invited to take part in the annual event, organised by the Learning Trust, who run the education service in Hackney.
This week (10-14 October) more than 2,000 primary and secondary school children from the six host boroughs for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will come together to compete against each other in paralympic sports. The teams, which will be made up of children with and without Special Educational needs, will take part in sports such as wheelchair basketball, goalball and archery.
For the first time, pupils will get the chance to play visually impaired football taught to them by coaches from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham football clubs.
Children will also receive coaching from paralympians, including Dervis Konulrap, 2012 wheelchair basketball hopeful Helen Turner, and representatives from the British Wheelchair Basketball Association.
Steve Belk, acting chief executive of the Learning Trust, said, ‘As we get ever closer to 2012, it’s vital that we take every opportunity to inspire our young people with the spirit of the Games and show everyone can take part in sport, whatever their ability. We hope this will encourage more schools to ensure their PE lessons are as inclusive as possible.’
Mark Goldring, chief executive of Mencap, said, ‘We are delighted that children with a learning disability will be competing alongside other school children in this inclusive event. Events like this are important as they open up sport for children of all abilities and they are an important step towards promoting equality.’