The British Paralympic Association (BPA) have launched its 2016 Paralympic Inspiration Programme (PiP) for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, with 28 athletes and coaches across thirteen Paralympic sports. Included in the cohort is Welsh VI Skier, Menna Fitzpatrick
The Programme, which was first launched in London 2012, provides athletes and coaching staff with an experience of several days at a Paralympic Games. It aims to provide developing athletes knowledge that will prepare them for a future Games experience as a selected athlete, as well as inspire and excite potential future Paralympians in their ambitions.
The group will travel to Brazil next month where the Programme aims to provide an understanding of the scale and scope of the Games; give an experience of a multi-sport environment; and give exposure to some of the unique aspects of a Games, including the Village, the media spotlight and mixed zone, and transport systems.
Additionally, there will be a rigorous curriculum that the participants will undertake, with lessons about nutrition, media, anti-doping, competition planning and goal setting, as well as being expected to keep up with their current training programmes.
Athletes were nominated by their National Governing Body based on a number of criteria, including but not limited to being on a development pathway, with an anticipated performance trajectory for the 2018 or 2020 Paralympic Games.
The Programme will also include a cohort of military athletes which have been supported by Help for Heroes as part of their partnership with the British Paralympic Association which is based on a shared belief in the power of rehabilitation through sports and a commitment to introduce military personnel and veterans to opportunities in Paralympic sport.
Kate Eddy, Athlete Services Manager at BPA, said: “It is really exciting to be able to launch the Paralympic Inspiration Programme once again. We know that the programme has been really successful in the past and so I look forward to following this Rio cohort on their journeys towards Tokyo. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the organisations who have supported the programme, as without them it would not be possible to run the programmes and to provide these athletes with an experience that will have a tangible impact on their preparations and development over the next Games cycle.”
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For further information about British Paralympic Association, please contact Tash Carpenter, Communications Manager, or Katherine Allin, Communications Officer via our Press Office email press@paralympics.org.uk or the duty press office phone 07717 587 055.
For further information about Help for Heroes, please contact Stephanie Ensten on stephanie.ensten@helpforheroes.org.uk or 07972 774220
Notes to Editors:
The first British Paralympics Association (BPA) Paralympic Inspiration Programme (PiP) launched at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. This programme saw a total of 51 developing sportsmen and women experience the London 2012 Games.
In 2014, a total of 16 athletes attended Sochi as part of the BPA’s Paralympic Inspiration Programme. Of these, Help for Heroes funded eight athletes to be part of the programme and the UPS Foundation funded the non-military cohort.
In 2016, a total of 21 athletes will attend the Rio 2016 Paralympic Inspiration Programme. Of these, 14 will comprise the non-military cohort and will be funded by the Cadbury Foundation, Boshier-Hinton Foundation and Help for Heroes will support seven military athletes.
