Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru

ATHLETES WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ALLOWED TO COMPETE AT LONDON 2012

The UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability (UKSA) celebrates the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decision today to allow athletes with intellectual disability to compete in the Paralympic Games, starting with London 2012. This important announcement ends the 9 year ban imposed after the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

Bernard Atha, Chairman, UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability said;

A great wrong has been put right. It has come just in time and I hope will allow athletes with a learning disability access to the training and support available to every other disabled athlete in order to participate in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Tracey McCillen, National Director, UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability said;

This is a tremendous moment. Finally the Paralympic door is open and athletes will be given the recognition they deserve as elite sportsmen and women. Now athletes need access to funding otherwise they won’t be able to meet the high performance standards required in time for Paralympic selection.

UKSA looks forward to working with Sports Governing Bodies, Paralympics GB and UK Sport to build a strong British Team for London 2012 and to creating a lasting legacy that includes people with learning disability well into the future.

The Paralympic Games is the pinnacle of sporting achievement and for those athletes with learning disability from Great Britain who reach the elite standards required, London 2012 will be the most significant step in their sporting career. UKSA will continue to support Governing Bodies and manage the classification process for athletes in the UK and acknowledges that athletes will be required to comply with the minimal disability requirements in order to compete in London 2012.

UKSA extends its thanks to INAS-FID, UKSA members, plus athletes, coaches and the numerous organisations across the UK for their support and in particular, thanks to UK Sport for its continued commitment to the inclusion of athletes with learning disability over the past 9 years.

Reactions to the Decision
Sir Philip Craven, President IPC
Today’s achievement is the outcome of a unique and excellent co-operation between sports governance and the scientific community. I want to thank all parties involved, especially the scientists, for their contribution and commitment over the last two years. I wish all ID athletes the best of success in their attempt to set world class performances at future Paralympic Games.

Dr Bob Price, President INAS-FID
Naturally, I am delighted with the outcome of the vote. Even though they themselves did nothing wrong, for nine years since Sydney 2000, ID athletes have been excluded from the Paralympic Games and other IPC sanctioned competitions. This resolution brings this unfortunate episode to an end and re-introduces ID athletes to their proper place within the Paralympic Family. I am hugely grateful to the Joint Working Group and its associated research teams and I look forward to seeing ID athletes competing on the world’s stage in London in 2012.

Tim Reddish, Chairman, Paralympics GB
We have lobbied hard for the re-inclusion of athletes with a learning disability subject to a robust classification system. We will now work hard with the sports to ensure that these athletes are best prepared.

Mark Goldring, Mencap Chief Executive
Everyone at Mencap is delighted that after years of campaigning, athletes with a learning disability will no longer be excluded from the Paralympic Games. However without immediate funding, British athletes will remain excluded from London 2012 despite the ban being lifted, and this is unacceptable.

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