IPPN

Published: 07 March 2011

Children from a south Belfast primary school experienced a taste of things to come in the London 2012 Olympic Games last week— but all from a disabled view point.

Chris Holmes, multiple gold medal-winning Paralympian swimmer and Director of Paralympic Integration for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, dropped into St Ita’s Primary School, last Thursday to see Newtownabbey’s paralympic gold medallist, Michael McKillop, deliver a presentation to allow the pupils to gain a deeper insight into the forthcoming games from a disabled perspective — all of this as part of the nationwide ‘Five-Star Disability Sports Challenge’ education project.

Holmes said: “As a former athlete, I know how important it is to support local grassroots disability sport.

“The Five-Star Disability Sports Challenge is not only key to helping us achieve our vision of inspiring young people to take up sport, but it will also help us change the public’s attitude towards disability. I am very excited about this programme, and how it will help more people get involved with London 2012.”

Michael McKillop, who won his gold medal in the 800m at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008, delivered the presentation part of the day along with Aubrey Bingham and Elaine Reid from Disability Sports NI, who are managing the project.