City of Westminster College students on Introductory Diploma in Sport & Leisure and Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences courses joined in the celebrations of International Paralympic Day on Thursday 8 September.
The Trafalgar Square event - held to showcase the London 2012 Paralympic Games (29 August-9 September 2012) - was attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and a host of top athletes from Team GB and international squads. It was an opportunity to demonstrate all 20 Paralympic sports and provide more information about the events at next year’s games and the stars who will be competing.
Students had the opportunity to participate in a quiz to test their knowledge, discover sports such as goalball and boccia and speak to top athletes in these fields. They also watched a number of practical demonstrations, including wheelchair basketball, 7-a-side football, sitting volleyball and power lifting.
Highlights of the day included a non-competitive race between schoolchildren and legendary Olympic runners Oscar Pistorius and Jerome Singleton, and a match partnering wheelchair tennis players with the Mayor of London and Prime Minister. The students also had the opportunity to meet Team GB rowers Pamela Relph, Naomi Riches, James Roe, Lily van den Broecke and Sam Scowen.
City of Westminster College Lecturer Glen Maybury, who led the group, says: “'We had a wonderful day in Trafalgar Square, taking part in this unique celebration of International Paralympic Day. Students and staff left feeling inspired by the athletes - and excited about the opportunity for us all to attend many of these events in 2012. We look forward to celebrating sporting history here in London next year.”
City of Westminster College is a proud member of the Get Set Network of colleges and schools, which exists to promote the Olympic and Paralympic values in curriculum and activities and provides opportunities to participate in the inspiration and opportunities offered by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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City of Westminster College students had the opportunity to meet elite rowers from Team GB at the Trafalgar Square celebrations of International Paralympic Day.