ParalympicsGB Sports Fest in Worcester to feature London 2012 medallists

By Gary Anderson

October 22 – The third edition of the ParalympicsGB Sports Fest is set to take place at the University of Worcester Arena on November 24 and 25 where London 2012 medallists Josie Pearson and Dan Greaves are among the athletes confirmed to appear at the event.

Sports Fest is a free two-day multi-sport event that aims to build on the interest generated in Paralympic sport and increase participation and opportunities for disabled people to get involved in sport following the success of London 2012.

The Worcester event is the third time the festival has been staged since the Games, with Surrey Sports Park hosting the first edition in December 2012 followed by EIS Sheffield in April.

"We're absolutely delighted to be bringing Sports Fest to Worcester," said BPA chief executive Tim Hollingsworth.

"We were thrilled to see such a great turn out at the first two events in the series and they attracted fantastic feedback from visitors of all ages.

"It is now really clear that Sports Fest provides a wonderful opportunity for people to learn how they can get involved in disability sport and to discover what's out there for them.

"Sports Fest is a crucial part of the BPA's commitment post-London to support the development of disability sport opportunities and to capitalise on the increased levels of interest in disability sport following the Paralympic Games last year."

London 2012 champion and Sports Fest ambassador Josie Pearson followed up her Paralympic Games win with World Championship gold earlier this year

"I'm delighted to be named as a Sports Fest Ambassador as the event is celebrated in Worcester," said Pearson, who followed up her discus gold medal at London 2012 by adding the World Championship crown to her collection at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Lyon this year

"As a Paralympian who has competed in both wheelchair [wheelchair] rugby and athletics, I know how fantastic it is to have the opportunity to try out a range of different sports under one roof.

"I'm really looking forward to the event and to meeting some of the people who sign-up to Sports Fest Worcester."

Visitors to the event can participate in come-and-try sessions for the vast majority of Paralympic summer and winter sports and will have the opportunity to meet the London 2012 medallists where they can put their questions to athletes, pose for photos and receive autographs.

Dan Greaves will be at the Sports Fest event in Worcester next month and will be giving advice to aspiring young athletes on how to become Paralympic and world champion

"I'd encourage people to get involved with Sports Fest and register to attend the event in Worcester," said Greaves, the former men's F44 discus world champion and Athens 2004 gold medalist, who matched his silver in London with another in Lyon in July.

"Sport has been a huge part of my life, but the great thing about Sports Fest is that it's not just for people with a competitive edge who want to find out how they can get more involved, it's also for people who want to maybe try something new and just get more active."

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) plans to hold more ParalympicsGB Sports Fests across the country throughout 2014 and for more information on these events and to register for next month's festival in Worcester click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]

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