Games begin for future star
THE British Paralympic Association (BPA) has launched its 2016 Paralympic Inspiration Programme (PiP) for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – with Menna Fitzpatrick from Tytherington in Macclesfield among those selected.
Fitzpatrick has been nominated by British Skiing to join the programme, which is formed of 21 athletes across 13 Paralympic sports.
The programme, which was first launched in London 2012, provides athletes and coaching staff with an experience of several days at a Paralympic Games.
It aims to provide developing athletes knowledge that will prepare them for a future Games experience as a selected athlete, as well as inspire and excite potential future Paralympians in their ambitions.
The group will travel to Brazil this month where the programme aims to provide an understanding of the scale and scope of the Games; give an experience of a multi-sport environment; and give exposure to some of the unique aspects of a Games, including the village, the media spotlight and mixed zone, and transport systems.
Additionally, there will be a rigorous curriculum that the participants will undertake, with lessons about nutrition, media, anti-doping, competition planning and goal setting, as well as being expected to keep up with their current training programmes.
Athletes were nominated by their National Governing Body based on a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, being on a development pathway, with an anticipated performance trajectory for the 2018 or 2020 Paralympic Games.
The programme will also include a cohort of military athletes which have been supported by Help for Heroes as part of their partnership with the British Paralympic Association which is based on a shared belief in the power of rehabilitation through sports and a commitment to introduce military personnel and veterans to opportunities in Paralympic sport.
Kate Eddy is athlete services manager at BPA, and she is looking forward to the programme.
“It is really exciting to be able to launch the Paralympic Inspiration Programme once again,” she said.
“We know that the Programme has been really successful in the past and so I look forward to following this Rio cohort on their journeys towards Tokyo.”
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the organisations who have supported the programme, as without them it would not be possible to run the programmes and to provide these athletes with an experience that will have a tangible impact on their preparations and development over the next Games cycle.”