Austria searching for future stars

Paralympic champions are out to attract the next generation of Para athletes with the launch of the Austrian Paralympic Committee’s ‘Talent Days 2019’.

This pioneer project, which encourages children from 8-18 with a physical or vision impairment to play sports, will run over two days this summer.

The participating sport federations will give kids the chance to try out archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, rowing, sailing, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. They will also provide further information on clubs and training sessions.

Austrian Paralympic champions Thomas Geierspichler, Gunther Matzinger and Natalija Eder, and Germany’s Rio 2016 champion Heinrich Popow will also attend to showcase their sports and sign autographs.

Worldwide Paralympic Partner Ottobock will deliver a workshop with a dedicated team of technicians who will equip the kids with sport prosthesis and wheelchairs free of charge.

Austrian Paralympic Committee President Maria Rauch-Kallat said: “It has always been important for us to promote talent. There are certainly many young people with disabilities who have yet to discover their athletic talent.

“The Talent Days will be their opportunity to test various sports and discover their enthusiasm for sport.”

Parents and teachers are also invited to participate in the workshops, engage in an interactive exchange with the kids, test the Para sports and enjoy themselves.

The registration deadline is on 3 May 2019. More information is available online.