Sports disability discussed at Down Council group

Sports disability discussed at Down Council group

21 December 2011

THE Director of Disability Sport Northern Ireland addressed members of Down Council’s Disability Awareness Group last week.

Mr. Kevin O’Neill met politicians at the local authority’s Strangford Road headquarters and was welcomed by the disability group’s chairwoman, councillor Carmel O’Boyle.

She said as a result of last week’s meeting, local politicians now intend to help promote sports for the disabled on a much more organised scale.

But the Newcastle councillor explained this is not just about providing bespoke facilities and opportunities for disabled people to participate in sport.

“What we must aim to do is to identify and target talented people who also have disabilities,” she explained.

“We intend to work with Fermanagh Council which is further along the road in this work. Above all, we must work closely with Disability Sport NI to address low participation rates in sports, to break down physical and attitudinal barriers and to tackle disadvantage.”

Councillor O’Boyle said moving forward, the emphasis must be on promoting equality for people with disabilities to allow them to participate in sports at a level of their choice.