London Mayor Ken Livingstone today published a new action plan designed to help increase the number of disabled people in London participating in any sport at any level.
According to the Mayor’s office disabled Londoners have fewer opportunities or choice of sports and sports activities and facilities that others already enjoy. It’s said this has led to fewer than one in five of disabled adults in London regularly taking part in any sport and physical activity.
Called ‘Inclusive and Active’ the action plan was jointly commissioned by the Mayor, Sport England and London Sports Forum for Disabled People sets out ten key priority action points to tackle the inequalities that exist and to help increase both sporting participation and success at every level.
Suggested action includes recruiting and training more disabled people as sports coaches with £500,000 funding already committed from the London Development Agency and increasing the number of existing sport and leisure facilities that are fully accessible and inclusive to disabled people.
Launching the report Mr Livingstone said “by working together with boroughs and national and local sporting associations to deliver the plan we can make a difference to the lives of disabled people before and after 2012, and create a sports legacy for disabled people of which we will be proud.”
Trevor Wood, Chair, London Sports Forum for Disabled People added that the report “is designed to ensure that good practice in terms of providing inclusive sport and physical activity is recognised and replicated.”
