PWDA
HUNDREDS of children and young people with disability have taken to the track on the Gold Coast for a major athletics carnival focused on participation, inclusion and sporting opportunity.
Students from 28 schools across South East Queensland gathered at the Gold Coast Performance Centre at Runaway Bay for the 39th Athletics Carnival for Children with Disability.
The long-running event gives students with intellectual and physical disabilities the opportunity to compete in structured and timed athletics events in a supportive environment.
Beyond the competition, the carnival aims to give young people with disability greater opportunities to be active, test their abilities and build confidence through sport.
Participants were encouraged to challenge themselves while enjoying the social side of the carnival, with the event bringing together students, schools, families and supporters from across the region.
A range of Olympic and Paralympic sports was also showcased throughout the day, giving students the chance to try different activities and develop new skills.
For some participants, the experience was an introduction to a sport they had never tried before. For others, it provided an opportunity to demonstrate existing skills and consider pathways into community clubs or higher levels of competition.
The carnival highlighted the importance of making grassroots sport accessible to children and young people with disability, particularly by creating environments where participation and enjoyment sit alongside sporting achievement.
Organisers said inclusive events could help young people build confidence, make connections and experience the physical and social benefits of being involved in sport.
The State Government supported this year’s carnival as part of efforts to increase participation in sport and recreation among people with disability.
The event also comes as attention increasingly turns towards inclusive sporting opportunities ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
