Over 150 juniors set for WheelPower National Games
150 disabled children from all over the country are getting ready for WheelPower’s flagship sports event at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, The National Junior Games.
Between Monday 22 and Thursday 25 September teams from 15 different schools will be taking time out of the classroom for a life transforming education on progressing in sport and the benefits of living a healthy active life. It's led by WheelPower- the national organisation of wheelchair sport.
The budding athletes aged 11 to 18 will have a go at a range of new sports as well as compete for medals over four days in the event supported by the Thomas Cook Children’s Charity.
Led by some of the country’s leading disability sport coaches activities include handcycling, powerchair football, table cricket, swimming, archery and for the first time ever- golf.
The ever popular wheelchair basketball and athletics will also be on offer as juniors take inspiration from Paralympic stars Ade Adepitan, David Weir and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson who took part in WheelPower’s National Junior Games on their road to success.
Last year 38,536 disabled people trained or took part in an event at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. A further 5,851 disabled people from East London took part in the Paralympic Legacy project Motive East, which included Time to Shine delivered by WheelPower.
WheelPower’s Sport Development Officer, Stewart Jeeves said:
“Sport provides tremendous health and social benefits at all levels and The National Junior Games gives participants the confidence and the opportunity to try sports in a fun, friendly and fully inclusive environment. For three decades our Games have been providing disabled children a pathway to get involved in sport at all levels from the school playground to the podium of the Paralympics, and WheelPower are very proud of the impact it has on people’s lives”
Joanna Wild, Chairperson of Thomas Cook Children’s Charity said:
“We are thrilled to be supporting WheelPower’s National Junior Games for a third year in a row. Thomas Cook Children’s Charity supports children and the communities in which they live. By continuing to work with WheelPower, we have been able to increase the opportunities for young disabled people across the UK have to play sport. ”
Watch the Junior Games
Spectators are welcome to join our supervised tours to see the National Junior Games in action on either Tuesday 23 September or Wednesday 24 in the morning. Tours are free of charge, pre booking is essential and subject to availability.
