NBA Star and Special Olympics GB's ambassador John Amaechi was interviewed on BBC London radio Breakfast Show [listen below].
He talked about Unified Sports, an inclusive programme where athletes with learning disabilities practise and play together on the same teams with people without learning disabilities. Read more: HERE.
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Special Olympics GB is Great Britain’s largest sports training and competition program which transforms the lives of young people and adults with learning disabilities through the power of sport.
The Unified Sports is run by the charity Special Olympics GB and supported by Coca‑Cola Great Britain. It will run in Great Britain as a series of coaching and competitive sports of all types throughout sport centres, clubs and communities all over the country.
Former NBA star John Amaechi OBE a Special Olympics GB ambassador and England Commonwealth Games medallist, visited Tower Hamlets College in East London to take part in the first Unified Basketball session of this initiative.
John said, “Unified Sports programmes will play a valuable role in breaking down the barriers to sport that exist for people with learning disabilities enabling them to compete in popular sports on the same team as those without learning disabilities; and in an environment that promotes equality and inclusion. With such a great range of sports to choose from now everyone can get involved. As we’ve shown here today, it can be a lot of fun.”
The growth of the Unified Sports program this year forms part of the long-term partnership between Coca‑Cola Great Britain and Special Olympics GB, which aims to make a range of sports more accessible for people with learning disabilities, empowering them and their families to take an active and more confident role in their communities.
Karen Wallin, CEO Special Olympics said:“With such an exciting year of sport ahead, young people around the country are being inspired to take up new sports, but for the 1.2million people in the UK with learning disabilities it’s not always easy to take part as they can often encounter exclusion and discrimination. The model of Unified Sports – bringing together athletes with and without learning disabilities – has been proven to overcome these difficulties and promote social inclusion. With many team sports to choose from, the Unified Sports programme will offer fun and fitness for thousands more people.”
Tower Hamlets College was chosen as the venue for the launch because of its commitment to disability sports. Last year the College launched the FE Special Games, a disability sports tournament, which was sponsored by Special Olympics GB.
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