Euro 2016: Participation and inclusion within the sport of football
The 2016 European Championship kicks off tonight with a spectacular opening ceremony in Paris before hosts France take on Romania at 20:00 GMT.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland are all involved in the competition, with 24 teams competing over 30 days at 10 different venues. The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) wishes each competing Home Nation the very best of luck on the world stage.
While the interest in football will rise over the next month, EFDS is keen to highlight the diversity within the formats of the game, as well as the people who play and love the sport.
The stark reality is that disabled people are half as likely as non-disabled people to be active. In the period April 2015-2016, 101,100 disabled people played football once a week, making it the sixth most popular sport.
Below are some examples of people with different impairments talking about their game and how they enjoy taking part.
Cath, powerchair footballer:
I really enjoy playing powerchair football – I took it up seven or eight years ago.
The first time I played I just loved it, everything about it. I had always loved sport but have never managed to find something that I could do myself without any help from anyone else- a sport that I could be in control of.
I love being part of the team, and when I score a goal the euphoria I feel, I never feel it anywhere else. I’ve graduated from university, I’ve passed my driving test, all of those sorts of things don’t compare to when I’m playing my sport.
Brad, blind footballer:
For my whole life I wanted to be part of a sports team but, as I was in a minority, it appeared impossible.
When I discovered blind football, it was amazing. I could finally participate completely in a sport and be on an equal level with all the other players.
It is very important to have good communication because no one else on the pitch can see you, except the goalkeeper, and a team can’t function properly together as a unit if no one knows where someone else is.
This helps in other aspects because you can transfer the skills you use in football to real life, off the pitch situations. I was never great in social situations, especially in groups, but having played blind football has improved me hugely and I now have the confidence to do things I had never done before.
Callum, deaf footballer:
I've been playing the sport since I could walk, which is near enough 25 years ago. It really is a passion of mine, and I enjoy the competition, being able to get involved in the team effort, and trying to win games and even targeting trophies.
The obvious benefit to sport, in fact any kind of physical activity, is the exercise and improved fitness involved.
But sport is great for uniting like-minded people with similar backgrounds in the same place. It's a great opportunity to get to know people in similar situations as yourself and make long-lasting friendships. I’ve certainly got loads of mates now who also turn out for Sunderland.
Jason, CP youth football coach:
I am trying to provide opportunities for disabled children. It’s great, because the kids all love attending. Every two weeks we get together. The parents have all created friendships and are they're sharing experiences and ideas for activities.
We usually have anywhere between eight to 15 coaches helping at each session, with a dozen being an average number. That’s a good amount, because it’s three or four coaches helping each group.
The children just love the opportunity to be able to play, alongside children of similar ability. Some of the kids that attend have never, for example, seen another child with cerebral palsy using a frame. They just assumed previously that football wouldn’t be possible because they use a frame. Now they see they can play, because others who are playing are no different to them.
