WHEELCHAIR basketball, adaptive boxing and soft archery are just some of the sports a group of schoolchildren have tried their hand at as part of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 legacy.
Pupils at Ninestiles, an Academy completed a six-week inclusive sports programme aimed at promoting physical activity and inclusion for all children.
The ‘United by 22: Gift of the Games’ programme follows on from the Commonwealth Games.
The initiative had learners participating in disability and inclusive sports, such as wheelchair basketball, soft archery, adaptive boxing, boccia and inclusive athletics.
The programme also aimed to foster social connections and teamwork between young people promoting an inclusive school environment.
Ninestiles, an Academy which is part of the Summit Learning Trust, signed up to the programme to engage children and young people who may feel reluctant to participate in traditional sports.
These sports were selected to offer accessible and engaging activities that promote physical fitness, teamwork, and understanding of adaptive sports.
The sessions provided learners with the chance to learn and experience sports that are typically not offered within the standard school curriculum.
Inclusive Athletics, for example, saw young people participate in athletic events using wheelchairs, while wheelchair basketball helped further develop their skills in inclusive sports.
The ‘Gift of the Games’ initiative is designed to help schools integrate inclusive sport and physical activity into the daily lives of students.
Its objectives are to create a lasting impact by promoting sports that are suitable, social, self-affirming, and safe.
Alex Hughes, Principal of Ninestiles Academy said: “This programme has been a fantastic opportunity for our learners to engage in new, inclusive sports, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and confidence grow over the past six weeks.
“By participating in a variety of inclusive activities, our young people have gained a deeper understanding of disability sport, while also building essential skills like teamwork and resilience.”
