Australian Paralympians back ‘Get Involved’ campaign

“The ‘Get Involved’ days are a perfect way for teens with a disability to give a new sport a go and make new friends.”

Australia’s world champion wheelchair racer Angela Ballard and four-time Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Cole are backing the Australian Paralympic Committee’s (APC) ‘Get Involved’ campaign.

In a bid to encourage youths with an impairment to get involved in para-sport, the campaign aims to establish a new generation of para-athletes.

After the APC received new funding from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation, the programme was launched to help young Australians with an impairment try para-sport in a safe environment, and provide an opportunity for them to further develop their potential.

In Australia, people with an impairment are 15 per cent less likely to participate in sport and active recreation than the general population, with nearly 75 per cent of those currently participating wanting to be more involved than they already are.

The ‘Get Involved’ campaign looks to empower youths with an impairment to participate in sport and boost their activity levels.

With less than two years to go until the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil, the APC hopes that the initiative will inspire teens with an impairment to try para-sports, whether they have Paralympic Games dreams, or are looking just for fun.

The programme will offer attendees the opportunity to try swimming, boccia, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, cycling, athletics and goalball.

“The ‘Get Involved’ days are a perfect way for teens with a disability to give a new sport a go and make new friends,” said Ballard.

“It’s exciting to think that the events give teens the opportunity to see if they could potentially aim for Rio. Even if their sights aren’t set on a Paralympic sporting career, it’s still awesome for teens to come along and enjoy sport.”

Jason Hellwig, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Paralympic Committee, said “Paralympic sport can provide huge positive physical and social benefits and together with the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation, we aim to inspire more young people to participate and encourage them to take it as far as their talent and desire possibly can.”

For more information, or to find your nearest ‘Get Involved’ campaign, visit the Australian Paralympic Committee website.