Rio 2016 Para-Swimmers say Give It a Go

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games swimming gold medallists Sophie Pascoe, Cameron Leslie and Nikita Howarth are throwing their support behind a new series of local events set to help disabled people get involved in sport.

It’s hoped that the series will help increase interest and participation in community sport activities run by ParaFeds, National Sports Organisations (NSOs) and disability sport organisations, but also give Paralympics New Zealand the opportunity to spot talent that could move into a pathway focussed on developing future Paralympians.

The ACC Paralympics New Zealand Open Day series will kick off this Friday 21 October at the AUT Millennium in Auckland, with the second event in the current series taking place at the Avantidrome in Cambridge on 5 November and the third event at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch on 18 February 2017.

Participants will have a chance to meet and hear from New Zealand’s top Paralympians, try out various Para-Sports and talk to various organisations about opportunities available to them in the community.

Pascoe, Leslie and Howarth will attend the first ACC Paralympics New Zealand Open Day this Friday, along with Rio 2016 bronze medallist Rebecca Dubber and Paralympic gold and double bronze medallist, Michael Johnson (Athens 2004; Beijing 2008; and London 2012).

The group of Para-Swimmers hope that the recent Rio Paralympics will be a driver and inspiration for other disabled Kiwi’s to give Para-Sport a go.

“The success that the team had in Rio really brought Para-Sport into the mainstream for the first time and we saw so much amazing support from New Zealanders,” said Pascoe.

“If through that we can inspire other disabled kiwis to come along to these Open Days, try Para-Sport and maybe go all the way to a future Paralympic Games, that would be huge for all the athletes that have paved the way.”

The events are designed to be fun and interactive, with friends and families also encouraged to attend.

For more information visit the Paralympics NZ website here.

CAPTION: Sophie Pascoe. Credit: BW Media.