A two-day Wheelchair Sports Expo will be held on Sunday 11th and Monday 12th September in the Cutaway under Barangaroo Reserve. The Expo will coincide with the Rio Paralympic Games and a number of sports at the Expo will be on display at the Paralympics.
The Expo gives budding wheelchair athletes, as well as able-bodied, the chance to sample a dozen different wheelchair sports including basketball, tennis, rugby, lawn bowls, powerchair football, badminton, boccia, handcycling, yoga, track and road racing.
Each sports station will be staffed with personnel who can provide an introduction to the rules, equipment and skills, as well as information about how they can join a disability sporting organisation like Wheelchair Sports NSW.
CEO of Wheelchair Sports NSW Jim O’Brien said the Expo had two main objectives.
“Firstly, this is all about giving people in wheelchairs an opportunity to get involved in a sport. The Expo gives them the chance to sample a wide variety of sports which involve varying degrees of skill, fitness and finesse.
“Sport provides so many physical, psychological and social benefits. It obviously improves fitness, but one of the great benefits our members report is the lifelong friendships they develop.
“Secondly, we also want able-bodied people to come down to Barangaroo, sit in a wheelchair and try these sports.
“Shooting a three pointer into a regular height basketball hoop, or serving a tennis ball while sitting down, gives you a whole new perspective and appreciation.
“You quickly stop seeing the disability and start appreciating the ability. It’s a great perception changer for kids and adults alike.
Chief Executive Officer of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Craig van der Laan said he was pleased to be able to host the Wheelchair Sports Expo.
“The Cutaway at Barangaroo is an ideal venue because there is ample space to run a dozen different sports under the one roof. The underground carpark and lifts also make it extremely accessible.
“Apart from visiting the Expo, it’s a great opportunity to visit the magnificent Barangaroo Reserve and learn more about this culturally significant harbourside headland,” Mr van der Laan said.
SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER (10am – 4pm)
Members of the public can simply turn up and start playing. There will be a series of specific clinics throughout the day focusing on each individual sport. The timetable for clinics can be found here
MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER (10am – 4pm)
Schools and office workers are encouraged to bring a group to sample these sports. This is an ideal team building exercise for organisations, particularly the way it changes perceptions and appreciation of the abilities of people in wheelchairs. To book a school or corporate group, click here.
For more information, go to:
www.wsnsw.org.au/wheelchair-sports-nsw-expo-at-barangaroo
For any media inquiries, please contact Kathleen Nicholls on 0402 205 914 or at kathleenn@wsnsw.org.au.