From the [UK] Telegraph:

UK academics and prominent disability sports advocates are criticizing the absence of a concrete policy to raise disability awareness and advance social change at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

According to a survey commissioned by London 2012, about 69 per cent of respondents could not name a Paralympian. Sixty-nine per cent of those surveyed said they would like to see more media coverage of Paralympic events.

[The nation's most decorated Paralympic athlete, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson], believes the public’s lack of understanding may be holding back not just the sport, but the disability aspects of the Games.

The Paralympics are a sporting – and political – movement for those living with disabilities. Grey-Thompson said: “Awareness and education, and a move towards social change and widespread acceptance have to be the key aims, along with developing a sporting structure for the future…”

Advocates are calling for increased media coverage and more community and school opportunities for Paralympic sports.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 9:39 am and is filed under exercise/sports, international, Paralympics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.