Memorandum submitted by the British Paralympic
Association
WINNING—A PARALYMPIC
LEGACY IN
LONDON 2012—PREAMBLE
London 2012 offers the most unique opportunity
to sport in Great Britain that has ever existed. For Paralympic
sport in particular this is perhaps the seminal moment in its
development following its creation in Stoke Mandeville in 1948.
The Paralympic achievements of Great Britain are well documented
and stand proudly alongside the greatest nations in sport in the
world.
To have created the consistency of team success
in the Paralympic Games and to have produced some of the iconic
names of the sporting world represents an achievement beyond compare.
No other Paralympic nation has an athlete with the public visibility
of Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson or possesses champions of the quality
of equestrian riders Lee Pearson and Debbie Criddle. British sport
can boast of a World No.1 Tennis player like Pete Norfolk, Swimming
champions of the calibre of Dave Roberts and Nyree Lewis, athletes
such as Danny Crates, Stephen Miller and David Weir, an Archer
like John Cavanagh and a Pistol shot as consistent as world record
holder Isabel Newstead. For many nations that would be enough,
whether in Olympic, or Paralympic, sport.
But in all these achievements and the many more
that exist there remains one ambition which is unfulfilled and
which burns in the hearts of these great champions—to create
a lasting legacy for Paralympic Sport. Without a lasting legacy
that sees their records challenged and beaten by a new young breed
of British Paralympians the achievements of the last 20 years,
of putting British Paralympic sport on the map, will be diminished
forever.
Britain now has the chance to ensure that legacy
is achieved, a chance to ensure that our successes in 2012 stand
comparison to the great teams of the past and that our champions
can stand alongside the great names of British Paralympianism.
The opportunity exists to create a lasting structure that will
ensure that young people with a disability in Britain have the
opportunity not only to participate in sport but also to excel.
But there is only one chance to get it right. There will not be
another opportunity, underpinned by the investment of emotion,
desire and, of course, finance, to position Paralympic sport where
it deserves to be— well regarded, well respected, well organised
and well funded.
The challenge lies in not just seeking parity
with Olympic investment but in seeking the right solution to the
needs of the sport and the athletes by creating:
ISSUES
There is a need for a coordinated National investment
of will by the Sports Councils to find a mechanism by which the
above outcomes can be attained. By failing to ensure that regional
investment and structures have the capacity to influence the GB
outcomes there is a distinct prospect that the legacy and sustainability
that the Games can bring will be lost and that regional investment
will be devalued.
The medals table will not and cannot be the
only measure of success. A simplistic view that 1st place is attainable
because 2nd was achieved previously and investment has increased,
is neither sustainable nor defensible. Additionally it is in danger
of devaluing achievement, demotivating (future) participants and
suppressing future investment.
However, if performance and the pathway to medals
are at the core, the associated inspiration at the elite level
can act as a stimulus for a vast number of people to strive harder
to realise their own potential. We need to celebrate achievement
proportionately and recognise that to achieve a much wider set
of desired benefits many other elements need to be in place. Without
taking this approach, increasing participation will be only locally
driven and will require a major effort to attract every new person.
Key areas include parents seeing the sporting
potential in their children and having enough confidence in the
system to take them along to schools and local clubs. It is essential
that teachers and coaches have the capacity, skills and understanding
to involve them in PE and other activities.
20 years ago 95% of children and young people
with disabilities were educated in specialist provision. Many
children were thus introduced to PE and sporting recreational
activities which enabled them to acquire skills and a high level
of sporting performance. Today 95% of this group are educated
in mainstream schools and have fewer opportunities to participate
in active PE let alone sporting activities. 2012's legacy must
be that all children should have opportunities within the school
curriculum to participate in PE and also that specific programmes
are put in place to develop sporting opportunities for all.
There also needs to be more world class supporting
staff and sports science with much better understanding around
the performance pathway itself. In a perfect world the basic infrastructure
for disability sport activity would be in place, with easy and
clear sign posting to opportunities, talent identification, comprehensive
provision and a clear and transparent pathway all the way from
playground to the Paralympics.
Particularly important in the complex organisational
context of sport in the UK is having clarity of roles and responsibilities
and aligned targets to drive participation and performance. Ideally
all stakeholders would fully understand what they and everyone
else has to do to achieve the vision, and feel ownership for their
work. Every action would have a direct impact on the system, and
would be measured for its effectiveness.
Broader societal attitudes, and that of politicians,
the media and potential sponsors, need to change. Differentiation
and inclusion should be recognised as equally important—with
the branding of Paralympics, and disability pathways to potential,
valued and promoted across politics, business relationships and
the media. Public perception should be seamless, seeing the individual
before the disability, and feeling perfectly comfortable around
the issue. This in turn would lead to positive experiences for
those with a disability, and increased confidence leading to a
more positive view of disability sport and a shift away from the
"patronising sympathetic" position of many today.
There is a good deal of agreement about the
key elements of this "perfect world" goal. It is the
"how we make it happen" that is less clear, and how
precisely 2012 can help the journey towards it.
There is tremendous passion and commitment that
all stakeholders share for disability sport. This incredible amount
of good work makes a huge difference to many people's lives. However,
too frequently there are major obstacles on the "pathway
to potential" for young athletes with a disability, and this
reduces the impact of this good work. Whilst there are many examples
of best practice in the UK (which is substantially better than
in many countries), the existing obstacles here are serious and
require attention.
1. Challenge the assumed success and complacency
around (sporting) inclusion. A co-ordinated approach must be taken
by all with responsibility at grass roots and participation level.
2. A focus on playground to podium pathways
should drive participation from a young age with all parties and
agencies having a common vision with increased but targeted investment
at all levels of development.
3. Investment at elite level must reflect
the Paralympic landscape and not simply use Olympic models.
4. Success in 2012 is crucial to future
funding and to ensure that the momentum behind Paralympics does
not dissipate quickly.
5. Greater recognition of the value of the
Paralympics both on the nation's sporting success and sense of
well being.
6. Partnership working and alignment must
be central to the approach—many stakeholders will be required
to deliver the desire changes.
7. Similarly, inclusiveness must consider
those developing disabilities through life and to make participation
attractive to all, reinforcing that a disability creates the ability
to participate.
8. It is as important to start delivering
on existing promises as it is to create new ideas.
9. Building the legacy starts now, not post-2012.
November 2007
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