National Junior Games for Athletes with a Disability
The National Junior Games for Athletes With a Disability were first held in 1981 in Adelaide and were an initiative of Wheelchair Sports Australia. Approximately 100 young athletes from across Australia participated in these Junior Games. Over the years the sports have included archery, athletics, slalom, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, power lifting and 7-a-side football.
The National Junior Games were held biennially for young athletes aged 12 — 20. Young people with a wide range of disabilities including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, amputees, les autre, paraplegia, quadriplegia and vision impairment competed in various sports. It enabled top young athletes in Australia to test themselves against the best and provided the opportunity to set them on a sporting career path to national and international sporting competition including the Paralympic Games.
Many outstanding athletes have emerged from the Junior Games and progressed through the ranks into the elite level. Athletes such as Louise Sauvage (OAM) athletics, Kylie Gauci wheelchair basketball, Kurt Fearnley (OAM) athletics, Troy Sachs (OAM) wheelchair basketball, Angie Ballard wheelchair racing, Justin Eveson (OAM) wheelchair basketball, Melanie Domaschenz wheelchair basketball and archery, Shaun Norris (OAM) wheelchair basketball, Brad Ness (OAM) wheelchair basketball, Brendan Bowden athletics, Michael Hartnett (OAM) wheelchair basketball, and Priya Cooper (OAM) swimming. Many of these athletes have said how significant the National Junior Games were for changing their lives, making lifelong friends and setting them on the path to become Australia’s elite athletes.
The Junior Games were not only for serious competition. The Junior Games had so many benefits, the personal satisfaction of learning new skills, of being a member of a team and working together, achieving your personal best or making friendships. Sporting successes were rewarded, national titles recorded, sportsmanship was notably recognised by the Louise Sauvage Award. The Lord’s Taverners Award was presented to the volunteer who contributed towards junior development at a National level.
The last Games were held in 2009 and were renamed Australian Paralympic Youth Games thanks to support from APC. Over 200 junior athletes competed in athletics, swimming, wheelchair basketball, table tennis, 7-a-side football, powerlifting, archery and wheelchair tennis.
Many events for junior athletes with a disability are now included in National Championships conducted by NSOs including athletics, swimming, wheelchair basketball, table tennis and wheelchair tennis. Other opportunities also now exist for junior development and competition such as in the Arafura Games and Pacific School Games.