The search will take place in the form of a Paralympic Potential Day, which will be held at Sport Central in the city on November 29.

The BPA has run talent days across Britain since 2007 as part of an initiative to remain one of the world's top Paralympic nations, having finished second on the medal table at the last three Summer Paralympic Games.

The talent days have so far proved hugely successful with almost half of the previous attendees having been identified as having potential talent and several of these individuals already excelling in their chosen sports.

BPA chief executive Tim Hollingsworth is excited to see what the North East has to offer, pointing out that some of Britain's greatest ever Paralympians hail from the region.

"We haven't been to Newcastle before but the North East is an area that we are sure has huge potential talent out there," he said.

"After all, this is where Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is living, this is where some of our long serving athletes such as Stephen Miller [the triple Paralympic champion in club throwing] are from, and this is an area with tremendous sporting credentials.

"I am confident that we will find some potential future Paralympians here, so I would encourage any disabled people across this region to sign up for what will be a really exciting day."


Middlesbrough's Terry Bywater (pictured), one of the stars of Britain's formidable men's wheelchair basketball team, who will be major gold medal contenders at the London 2012 Paralympics, has encouraged disabled people from his hometown to attend the day.

"There are a few players in the GB team at the moment who previously attended one of the BPA's talent days," said Bywater, who was part of the squad that won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

"It just goes to show that these talent days work, so if you are sitting on your sofa at home reading this, sign up for the 29 November.

"You never know, you could go on to represent Great Britain."


Sunderland's Hazel Robson (pictured), who won Paralympic gold at Sydney 2000 in the 100-metre T36 category, added: "The talent day is a chance for disabled people to find out more about disability sport.

"Maybe you aren't sure if sport is for you but you want to give it a go, maybe you don't know what sports are out there and want to try something unusual, maybe you have always had dreams of competing in sport - whatever your reasons, I'd encourage people to sign up."

To sign up for the day click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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