Athletes triumph at School Games Paralympic Festival 2024

On Thursday 25th April, the School Games Paralympic Festival was back!

Athletes qualified from the 10 district areas across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland to compete against one another in the County Finals of Sportshall Athletics, Boccia and New Age Kurling.

We welcome over 250 young athletes from over 30 schools across LLR to Loughborough University to take part in a day of fun activities. Delivered by Active Together in partnership with our School Sport & Physical Activity Networks (SSPANs), the School Games Paralympic Festival was a multi-sport inclusive event, tailored specifically to be appropriate to a range of students from special and mainstream schools across the school sport network.

The non-competitive Inspire Carousel returned to the Festival for it's third year, and included Wheelchair Sports, Multi-Sports, Cricket and Kin-ball as it's activities.

For the first time, the Paralympic Festival included several activities targeting young people who are vision impaired. With support from British Blind Sport (BBS) and relevant National Governing Bodies (NGB's), these expertly adapted activities provided opportunities for young people to take part in activities such as Football, Goalball and Tennis, as well as potential talent ID/pathways to local community clubs and beyond.

An Awards Ceremony took place for each Sportshall Athletics, Boccia and New Age Kurling County Final, and the winners, runners up and third place were announced as well as a 'Spirit of the Games' winner, for the Team best representing the School Games values of Determination, Honesty, Passion, Respect, Self-Belief and Teamwork.

A huge thank you to Loughborough College, Beaumont Leys School, Forest Way and Lutterworth High School for providing Young Leaders for the Sportshall Athletics, Inspire Carousel, Boccia and New Age Kurling events. They all did an amazing job with supporting the athletes and making the day as special as possible.

We also had England Women's Blind footballer Selina Prieto in attendance, who spoke to the athletes and took part in the award ceremonies. Please find the results below.

The School Games action doesn't stop there, as Loughborough University will also host the School Games Summer Festival on Thursday 27th June 2024, where we will also announce our winning School Games Partnership!

Results

KS2 Boccia

1. Montrose (West Leicester)
2. Spinney Hill (East Leicester)
3. Woodcote (NWL

Spirit of the Games Winner = Woodcote (NWL)

KS3-5 SLD Boccia

1. Birch Wood (Melton & Belvoir)
2. Ashmount (North Charnwood)

Spirit of the Games Winners = Ashmount (Charnwood)

KS3 MLD Boccia

1. Wigston Academy (Oadby & Wigston)
2. Lutterworth High (Blaby & Harborough)
3. Crown Hills Community College (East Leicester)

Spirit of the Games Winners = Crown Hills Community College (East Leicester)

KS4/5 MLD Boccia

1. Lutterworth High (Blaby & Harborough)
2. Crown Hills Community College (East Leicester)
3. West Gate (West Leicester)

Spirit of the Games Winners = West Gate (West Leicester)

Sportshall Athletics

1. Shaftesbury Junior School (West Leicester)
2. Burbage Junior School (Hinckley & Bosworth)
3. Woodcote (NWL)

Spirit of the Games Winners = Spinney Hill (East Leicester)

KS2 New Age Kurling

1. Ab Kettleby (Melton & Belvoir)
2. Ibstock Juniors (NWL)
3. Oakham C of E (Rutland)

Spirit of the Games Winners = Ibstock Juniors (NWL)

You can access the full Paralympic Festival photo album on our Facebook page here.