Young athletes show sporting success (From Hillingdon Times)
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Young athletes show sporting success
12:51pm Wednesday 25th April 2007 in News By Rachel Sharp
A young competitor at the Panathlon Challenge.
YOUNG disabled athletes pitted their skills against each other at the first round of the 2007 Panathlon Challenge.
The inter-school sports competition, held on Monday, had teams from Hillingdon battling it out against teams from neighbouring Ealing and Brent.
More than 100 athletes aged between 10 and 18, competed against each other in sports such as new age curling, polybat, table cricket and athletics, for the honour of representing their borough at the all London final on June 28.
The Brent youngsters triumphed in four of the six events in the competition, held at the West London Academy, which was funded by Sport England (London) and the Jack Petchey Foundation.
Organiser of the event Ashley Iceton said: "Truly competitive sport is highly important for young disabled people as they rarely get the same opportunities as able bodied people. We hope Panathlon helps to redress the balance.
"We are looking forward to some close and competitive events with a place in the London final later this year at stake."
He added: "We were looking forward to a close and competitive event, and we certainly got it. Congratulations to the Brent team for such a convincing and effective performance, and to the other teams for participating so well."
Phillipa Constable, in charge of the Hillingdon team, said they had been delighted to participate in the qualifying round.
She said: "Our team has been in training for weeks and we are very pleased that our children, through Panathlon, have been given a chance to show their sporting capabilities."
Mike Cox, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Hillingdon, presented the trophies to the teams. He said: "The Panathlon is a fantastic event, I am a great supporter. The kids love it so much and are so enthusiastic, it's wonderful to see."
In the next few weeks more than 500 young disabled people will be involved in the competition. Investment has been made in disability sports equipment across 16 London Boroughs and coaching funds have allowed several hundred additional young people to benefit from training and coaching sessions.
More than 50 teachers, community coaches and volunteers have been trained to deliver Panathlon coaching sessions across London.
