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BPA brings Brazilian atmosphere to fans through Carnival events

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) today announced that six UK cities will host Carnival events during the Paralympic Games in September 2016.

BPA Carnival poster

A new event created with a Brazilian theme, the BPA aims to use the Carnivals to excite and engage the British public with the ParalympicsGB team and disability sport.

The ParalympicsGB Carnival will provide opportunities for the public to meet retired Paralympic athletes and medallists, try out different sports and test themselves in challenges, as well as enjoy some Brazilian-themed entertainment.

The Carnival events will build on the successful formula of the National Paralympic Day events held in 2013, 2014 and 2015 which included meet-and-greet opportunities with Paralympic athletes and come-and-try activities. Each National Paralympic Day held at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park attracted over 15,000 people, and over 6,000 people have attended National Paralympic Day events hosted by the cities of Liverpool, Birmingham, Plymouth, Brighton and Nottingham.

The Carnival will kick off at Stoke Mandeville, the historic birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, on the day of the Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony. The event will then move to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where it will join up with the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival for the fourth successful year to create a day of celebration of disability sport and arts. From there, the Carnival will visit Cardiff, Nottingham and Edinburgh.

The full event titles and schedule is as follows:

  • ParalympicsGB Carnival, delivered in association with Wheelpower – September 2 at Stoke Mandeville
  • ParalympicsGB Carnival, at National Paralympic Day – September 3 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
  • ParalympicsGB Carnival at The Wheelchair Sports Spectacular in association with Disability Sport Wales – September 9 at NIAC, Cardiff
  • ParalympicsGB Carnival, delivered in association with Nottingham City Council – September 17
  • ParalympicsGB Carnival, delivered in association with Edinburgh City Council – September 18

A sixth host city will be announced in due course.

The Carnival events will be funded by Spirit of 2012, a trust established by the Big Lottery Fund to recreate the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Spirit is committed to funding partners who help challenge perceptions of disability.

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the BPA, said:

“It is incredibly exciting to announce that we will hold ParalympicsGB Carnival events. We know the public will be keen to try out the sports featured in the Paralympic Games, meet Paralympians and find out more about local clubs as well as take the opportunity to have a bit of Brazil come to the UK too this summer.
“The Carnivals build on our incredibly successful National Paralympic Days over the past three years. In the year of a summer games we want to inspire people and give them a chance to have fun and learn more about the Paralympic Games and to get behind the ParalympicsGB team and feel connected to what will be happening in Rio in September this year.
"We are confident this is an excellent way to achieve our ambition, and grateful to the Spirit of 2012 Trust for their continued belief in it and funding for the events.”

Spirit of 2012 Chief Executive, Debbie Lye, said:

“Spirit of 2012 is proud to continue our involvement with the Paralympic movement by supporting this year’s BPA-led carnival events. At Spirit we aim to challenge perceptions of disability and help more people, both disabled and non-disabled, participate regularly in physical activity.
"The Carnivals will give people across Britain the chance to try out new, inclusive sports and activities - an important first step in overcoming the barriers to getting involved in sport and activity.”