Post by Stan and Harry's Dad on Nov 29, 2004 11:09:12 GMT -5
PARALYMPIC DREAM A REALITY ONCE AGAIN
For immediate release (29.11.04)
Athletes with learning disability (mental handicap) can again dream of Paralympic Gold as they celebrate a victory at the recent International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly.
By an overwhelming majority vote, the IPC membership opened the way for athletes to compete, with full medal status; in future IPC sanctioned competitions and rejected the motion to impose an outright ban on this group of athletes and INAS-FID.
Pat Boylan, mother of Nicholas Boylan, a world class swimmer with learning disability said "this is just so wonderful - it's the end of such a long and difficult road for so many athletes - I know that there is a lot of work that still needs to be done, but for me to be able to tell my son that he is being recognised and that all his hard work has not been in vain, is just the best news I could ever have had".
"This is something of a victory for justice and common sense", comments Bernard Atha, President UK Sports Association and INAS Europe who has been intimately involved in the fight against the ban since it was imposed four years ago. "There was considerable resistance to INAS and its athletes from a few central figures at the General Assembly, but there was even greater pressure for justice and fairness from representatives from across the world. We are not quite where we want to be, but the way is open to us".
"UKSA are extremely pleased with the outcome of the IPC General Assembly and the prospect for our athletes to take part in IPC events and the Paralympics once again" says Geoff Smedley, CEO, UK Sports Association. "We are grateful for the support we have received from MPs, the British Paralympic Association (BPA), National Governing Bodies, and Olympic athletes and from organisations such as MENCAP.
The UK Sports Association as the national UK body in membership of INAS-FID with sole responsibility for the registration of athletes with learning disability in the UK for INAS-FID and IPC events will continue to work closely with both of these international bodies, the BPA and appropriate National Governing Bodies to ensure that British athletes with learning disability continue to take their rightful place on the International Sporting stage.
Discussions are already underway with potential World Class Performance funders to re-introduce athletes with learning disability to the programmes.
Support for athletes with learning disability has been received from the Prime Minister, Maria Eagle a Government Minister, a number of MPs, MEPs. MSPs and sportspeople, including former Olympians Liz McColgan and Verona Elder. .
The ban against all athletes with learning disability since September 2000, ensued as a result of an incident at the Sydney Paralympic Games, where members of the Spanish basketball team cheated.
For immediate release (29.11.04)
Athletes with learning disability (mental handicap) can again dream of Paralympic Gold as they celebrate a victory at the recent International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly.
By an overwhelming majority vote, the IPC membership opened the way for athletes to compete, with full medal status; in future IPC sanctioned competitions and rejected the motion to impose an outright ban on this group of athletes and INAS-FID.
Pat Boylan, mother of Nicholas Boylan, a world class swimmer with learning disability said "this is just so wonderful - it's the end of such a long and difficult road for so many athletes - I know that there is a lot of work that still needs to be done, but for me to be able to tell my son that he is being recognised and that all his hard work has not been in vain, is just the best news I could ever have had".
"This is something of a victory for justice and common sense", comments Bernard Atha, President UK Sports Association and INAS Europe who has been intimately involved in the fight against the ban since it was imposed four years ago. "There was considerable resistance to INAS and its athletes from a few central figures at the General Assembly, but there was even greater pressure for justice and fairness from representatives from across the world. We are not quite where we want to be, but the way is open to us".
"UKSA are extremely pleased with the outcome of the IPC General Assembly and the prospect for our athletes to take part in IPC events and the Paralympics once again" says Geoff Smedley, CEO, UK Sports Association. "We are grateful for the support we have received from MPs, the British Paralympic Association (BPA), National Governing Bodies, and Olympic athletes and from organisations such as MENCAP.
The UK Sports Association as the national UK body in membership of INAS-FID with sole responsibility for the registration of athletes with learning disability in the UK for INAS-FID and IPC events will continue to work closely with both of these international bodies, the BPA and appropriate National Governing Bodies to ensure that British athletes with learning disability continue to take their rightful place on the International Sporting stage.
Discussions are already underway with potential World Class Performance funders to re-introduce athletes with learning disability to the programmes.
Support for athletes with learning disability has been received from the Prime Minister, Maria Eagle a Government Minister, a number of MPs, MEPs. MSPs and sportspeople, including former Olympians Liz McColgan and Verona Elder. .
The ban against all athletes with learning disability since September 2000, ensued as a result of an incident at the Sydney Paralympic Games, where members of the Spanish basketball team cheated.