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Disability Sport making it happen

Friday 17 May 2003

The 2003 Scottish Disability Sport Conference ‘Making it Happen’ sponsored by Royal Mail through the Ready Willing and Able for Sport Programme is being held today (Tuesday 20 May 2002) at the Dewar’s Centre, Perth. With 2003 being the European Year of Disabled People, Scottish Disability Sport are looking forward to a successful conference to help make a difference for Scottish disabled athletes in the future.

The one-day conference aims to create an awareness of sporting structures and opportunities available to people with a disability in their local community. The conference offers delegates the opportunity to listen to and discuss a variety of prominent issues relating to disability sport. This will be facilitated through a comprehensive programme of workshops during the afternoon session.

Scottish Disability Sport will welcome a number a number of highly respected guest speakers including the Managing Director of the Youth Sport Trust, Steve Grainger and Istvan Balyi an international consultant who has worked with national disability agencies in Canada and national sporting agencies in the UK.

Two of Scotland’s top Paralympians will also be sharing their experiences of life in sport. Maggie McEleny MBE, a multi medal-winning swimmer who has been at the top of her sport for over ten years and Scotland’s most outstanding wheelchair athlete, Karen Lewis.

Richard Brickley MBE, Chairman of Scottish Disability Sport, said: “We are very excited about this conference. We have managed to attract well- respected speakers from both the UK and abroad and the workshop programme will address some of the major issues affecting sport for people with a disability in Scotland. The number of delegates attending has exceeded our expectations and we are all looking forward to successful and stimulating day.”

Liz Turner, Royal Mail’s Head of External Relations for Scotland, said: “One of the major aims of the Royal Mail Ready Willing and Able for Sport programme has always been to raise the profile of disability sport throughout Scotland. The National Disability Sport conference in Perth will play a large part in progressing this aim.”

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: “This conference is an excellent example of partnership working in action. The Ready Willing and Able for Sport programme is a key initiative making a real impact on the sporting lives of people with a disability in Scotland. “This year’s conference has attracted many keynote speakers and comprehensive workshops and I am sure it will be an informative and beneficial opportunity for all concerned.”

  • The conference will take place at the Dewar’s Centre, Glasgow Road, Perth on Tuesday 20 May at 0930 for registration and refreshments the conference begins at 1000.
  • The morning programme is as follows:
    Mary Alison, Physical Activity Co-ordinator for the Scottish Executive – “The Role of Disability Sport in the New Scotland”
    Steve Grainger, Manager Director of the Youth Sport Trust – “The Importance of Inclusion in Youth Sport”
    Istvan Balyi, International Consultant – “Long Term Athlete Development”
    GB Paralympic Team athletes Maggie McEleny, MBE and Karen Lewis – “Sport is Life”
    Wai Yin Hatton, Board Member, sportscotland – Closing remarks
  • Afternoon workshops:
    Children and Young People
    Local Networks
    Facilities: Overcoming the Barriers
    Clever Coaching
    Finding the Funds
    Policy, Politics and Partnerships
  • Ready Willing and Able for Sport is a year-long programme targeted at the development of sporting opportunities for people with a disability throughout Scotland. The programme is sponsored by Royal Mail and delivered by Scottish Disability Sport, in partnership with sportscotland.
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