Inspiring Australia’s next generation of para-sports athletes

The ‘Try Para-Sports’ programme is set to deliver community focused events across Australia, offering those with a disability the chance to try out new sports. The aim is to create a safe and welcoming environment ‘leveraging the buzz surrounding para-sports’ with the Paralympics set to begin in Paris on August 28.

Disability Sports Australia and Paralympics Australia will host a space for sports organisations to showcase their para-sport pathways. Participants will be able to test out a range of para-sports including wheelchair basketball, archery, wheelchair rugby, goalball, boccia (a precision ball sport) and more.

Attendees will also learn about ways to play these sports at both an amateur and elite level.

“Sport has the power to change people’s lives. Our mission is to enable more Australians with a disability to be more active, more often,” commented Disability Sports Australia Chief Executive Ayden Shaw.

“We know 75% of people with a disability want to play sports. Bupa’s support at this grassroots level is vital to achieving our ambitions.

“Since the launch of our strategic plan last year, we have delivered 69 events to more than 4,000 participants. Partnerships such as the one that we have with Bupa are pivotal in creating and providing sports and active programs and services that deliver more opportunities for individuals with pathways to becoming Australia’s future star Paralympians or, just as importantly, participating socially.”

The partnership is an extension of an existing collaboration between Bupa and Disability Sports Australia, which began more than a year ago.

With only one in four people with a disability participating in sport, Penny Ryan, Director of Brand APAC, Bupa, said it was important to support the development of para-sports at grassroots level.

“Bupa’s purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, and happier lives, so we are very excited to put this purpose into action with Disability Sports Australia. Being active is one of the best ways to stay healthy, but it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to sport,” Ryan said.

Events will run across Australia in October and November, and are open to those aged 10 and above.

Image: Pixabay