ParalympicsGB welcome re-inclusion of learning disability athletes

ParalympicsGB today welcomed the decision taken at the IPC General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur to include athletes with a Learning Disability (known internationally as Intellectual Disability) in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

There are four sports targeted for inclusion in London 2012, athletics, swimming, rowing and table tennis, although at this stage the events schedule is unknown.

Tim Reddish, Chairman of ParalympicsGB, commented:
‘We have lobbied hard for the re-inclusion of athletes with a learning disability, subject to a robust classification system and are delighted that IPC and INAS-FID have got us to that point.

"We believe in the power of sport to positively affect all people’s lives and we advocate the involvement of as many people as possible across all disabilities in sport.

"The Paralympic Games represent the pinnacle of high performance sport, so any athletes with a learning disability will have to meet the same exacting performance and qualification standards as all other GB athletes - we will now work hard with the sports to ensure that these athletes are best prepared”