Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure (BDSL) is a local charity which aims to provide disabled people with high quality sport and physical activity. We run various clubs and activities across the district for over 400 disabled people. We need continuous support to not only keep the existing clubs running but also to move forward and add new activities.
We have had a number of athletes selected to compete in the Special Olympics National Games next year. They continuously work hard and train hard for this opportunity. This costs a minimum of £400 per athlete and volunteer and we are asking for your help to send these very deserving athletes to partake in the opportunity of a lifetime.
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit every day around the world through the transformative power and joy of sport. Through programming in sports, health, education and community building, Special Olympics is tackling the inactivity, stigma, isolation, and injustice that people with intellectual disabilities (ID) face. Their work goes far beyond sports events, driving social change that enables full social participation for people with ID.
Special Olympics approach is to deliver, high- quality training and competition in an inclusive culture through Unified Sports which allows for people with and without intellectual disabilities to play on the same field. They offer 30-plus Olympic-style individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for athletes ranging in age from 2 to 99! Special Olympics teammates benefit in gaining quality sport experiences.
Over 2,000 athletes will take part in the Games at Liverpool. There will be a wide range of sports including Athletics, Boccia, Football, Gymnastics, Swimming, and the Motor Activities Training Programme for people with multiple cognitive disabilities.
As well as keeping all our usual activities going we want to help fund this amazing opportunity for these hard working athletes.