The UK Sports Association is delighted to announce that 11 high performance athletes have today joined the national campaign, My Sport, My Voice!

Many of the 11 Athlete Reps are rising stars in their sport and have been selected for supporting roles in the project, which officially launched in March 2015 with 13 Athlete Ambassadors.

Thanks to funding from Spirit of 2012, a trust set up to sustain the spirit and opportunities from the London 2012 Games, My Sport, My Voice! is raising the profile of the UK’s elite athletes with learning disability by providing a platform to showcase their sporting achievements and inspire others to succeed.

The project is backed by the UK Sports Association’s partners in each country of the UK; English Federation of Disability Sport, Scottish Disability Sport, Disability Sport Wales, and Disability Sports Northern Ireland, as well as our member organisations.

Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive at the UK Sports Association said: “I was thrilled to announce our 13 Athlete Ambassadors in March and I am equally delighted to now be in a position to reveal our 11 Athlete Reps.

“The Athlete Reps are an important part of My Sport, My Voice! and many of them have competed at the very highest level in their sport, whilst the others are aspiring stars of tomorrow. They all have some incredible experiences to share, both in and out of the sporting arena and are working hard to make their mark in sport.

“My Sport, My Voice! provides a platform for all our athletes to share their experiences, to inspire others and to raise the profile of athletes with learning disability, all of which will help to change perceptions of people with learning disability. 

“The athletes are at the very centre of the project and through a variety of activities and engagement are having their voices heard whilst demonstrating with the right approach and support, people with learning disability can and will excel."

Debbie Lye, Chief Executive at Spirit of 2012 said: “My Sport, My Voice! is all about creating a positive, lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games through challenging perceptions of disability through the efforts of some fantastic athletes. We are delighted to fund this project and many others which empower people to get out, be involved and feel better.”

The Athlete Ambassadors are co-delivering workshops in their regions and countries whilst representing the programme in the media to educate and enlighten not just the sporting community but the wider general public too. The Reps are working in a supporting role to assist the Ambassadors.

To find out more visit: www.uksportsassociation.org/mysportmyvoice.  

The 11 Athlete Reps revealed today are as follows:

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability (UKSA) is the national disability sports organisation and umbrella body in the UK for sport and people with learning disability. UKSA promotes, supports and facilitates talented sports people with learning disability in the UK to train, compete and excel in national and international sport and is the body responsible for eligibility and classification of athletes from the UK. UKSA is recognised by UK Sport, is a member of the British Paralympic Association and is the official Great Britain member of Inas. See www.uksportsassociation.org

1. Learning Disability is a term used in the UK, with intellectual disability being used internationally.  Both refer to the same group of athletes. Learning disability is a “hidden disability”. It inhibits how a person learns and performs every day functions that others take for granted. It also reduces communication, understanding, social, and living skills. In elite performance sport learning disability is defined as an IQ of 75 or less; significant limitations in adaptive behaviour and age of onset of the learning disability being in the development years, i.e. 0 -18 years.  This definition adopted by Inas is from the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of learning disability (mental handicap) and is in line with other internationally recognised definitions.

1. UKSA and Inas are different to Special Olympics. UKSA promotes performance led elite competitive sport, has just one classification group in events and is focussed on the performance and winning gold.  UKSA and Inas are part of the pathway to Global Games and Paralympic Games. Special Olympics are a year-round sports training and competition programme for adults and children with learning disability. Special Olympics competitions are divisioned so that athletes compete with other athletes of similar ability in each sport. Special Olympics competitions are non-elite catering to all-ability levels. Special Olympics focus is on participation and improving an athlete’s quality of life. High sports ability athletes may progress to the Paralympic level through UKSA and Inas.

1. Spirit of 2012 was established by the Big Lottery Fund in November 2013 with an endowment of £47m. Spirit invests in happiness. Our vision is that all people are equally empowered to get out, be involved and feel better. We believe in equal chances, we’re working to ensure the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics is felt across the UK. By connecting events to communities across the country, we ensure our investment is of local, regional and national benefit. We tackle isolation and disadvantage by supporting those providing opportunities in sports and physical activity, culture and the arts, social action and volunteering.