Abilities celebrated with special day of sports events

The sporting event, called Celebrating Ability Day, at Energise sports centre, was held to mark one year until the launch of the Paralympic Games in London and to celebrate the growing number of disabled people taking up sport in York.

A host of games were organised to mark the event ranging from wheelchair rugby to basketball to tennis, while special guests included Paratriathlete Alan Rayment and Britain’s most successful individual Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes.

Coun Sonja Crisp, Cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion at York Council, said: “Celebrating Ability Day is a great way to help residents and visitors recognise the opportunities open to disabled people in the city – and what better way to do this then exactly one year to go until the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”

“York is a city with an active disability sports scene that celebrates inclusion for all and figures show that the number of disabled people taking part in regular sport has increased from seven per cent in 2006 to 15.4 per cent in 2010.“

Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, Gary Verity, said: “It is fantastic to see another great day to profile Paralympic sports.”