Paralympics

[Jaye]

I don't know about anybody else, but I have been totally inspired by the athletes at the Paralympics! But having been on the Athens 2004 website I am dismayed to find no gymnastics on there! Why? There are plenty of GMPD gymnasts and trampolinists out there, why are they not given a chance at the Paralympics too? I used to coach a 7 year old 'dwarf' (absolutely gorgeous and fearless little girl called Nicole) who had so, so much gymnastics potential but there were certain obvious moves she would not be able to perform and she would have had different needs. We also have Sian on this forum who is still battling for her right to participate in competitive gymnastics, she has never given up and should also be given a chance to compete (have you rang them up yet Sian?!!!)

I hope South Manchester Gymnastics Club will forgive me for posting this from their website, but we could have had a real medal contender here for Britain:

Steven Hopkins represented Great Britain at the Special Olympics in Dublin during July 2003.
He returned from the competition as world champion gaining overall gold medal in his category.

Steven also gained individual gold on the parallel bars, silver medals on the floor, high bar and rings, and bronze medal on the pommel horse.

http://www.southmanchestergymnastics.org/winners/special-champion.jpg
Steven Hopkins - world champion Special Olympics Dublin 2003

Steven did a display at one of our 'friendly' comps last year ... and he was absolutely superb and got the biggest cheer of the day!!!

Does anybody know are there plans to include gymnastics at the Paralympics of 2008? If not, don't you think there should be so the likes of Steven Hopkins can participate and bring a couple of medals home for GB?!

[Sian]

Jaye - I have rang them... and I've been invited to compete in the Voluntary Championships this coming November! Wooo!

It would be nice to see gymnastics in the Paralympics. Personally I think they should have a wider variety of sports, including gymnastics. I'm sure there are many people that would be interested. They just need to be given a chance.

[Sian]

Just had a quick look... the special olympics include gymnastics, but the paralymics don't.

and as i have a physical disability, not a learning disability, i'm not eligible for that.

[Jaye]

Well done!!! This coming November ... next month?!! You'd better get training!

I must admit I'm not fully au fait with the criteria for entry into the Paralympics, but I do think gymnastics and trampolining should be included, I mean even in our normal NW Grades trampolining comps, every year there is a G8 included for disabled bouncers (and this year there were about a dozen entries) - I think there are 2 categories in the G8 too, 6 bounce and 10 bounce routines (but don't quote me!) I think it is excellent that the Grade 8 is competed alongside all the other grades (3-6)!

[Clarabel]

I know that moves were made to the Paralympic committee about including gymnastics. There is a lot of paperwork and rule-setting to be figured out as you have to decide which categories of disability will compete and who will compete together and separate. You also have to decide what assistive equipment is permitted and what is not, for example do you allow someone to wear an adapted handguard for a hand disability and what adaptations exactly are going to be allowed? Safety also has to be considered to ensure that disabled gymnasts are not put at increased risk of serious falls.

Then you have to have a tarif for each move - if someone is going on bars and has no movement in the legs then you have to replace the usual marking procedure for having straight legs, legs together, good extension in a straddle, etc. with something else, skills that can be used without legs. Then you think about how to handle dismounting - does this person just come to a dead stop on the bar and hang for a dismount? Do you allow them to dismount into a pit?

Unfortunately it isn't a quick process but I know it started I just don't know how far it got. Perhaps someone from BG is involved with this lobby and knows something about it?