Throughout the day, participants competed in a range of disability sports from Boccia and Curling to Goalball and Sitting Volleyball and even had the opportunity to go head to head with Club mascots, Moonbeam and Moonchester, who were in attendance.
The inaugural Disability Awareness School Sports Day was delivered with two key aims: to inspire participants to lead active, healthy lifestyles and to raise awareness of disabilities so as to promote positive attitudes towards disability and diversity within our community.
City in the Community’s School Sports programme, which is funded by the Premier League and aims to provide structured PE sessions in line with the national curriculum, delivered the day’s events together with the foundation’s ‘One City’ Disability Awareness initiative.
CITC’s ‘One City’ programme, which uses the power of football to provide workshops for young people aged 9 to 11 years old, has provided almost 80 hours of disability awareness training to 13 primary schools across Manchester since the start of the 2014/15 season and this year’s Sports Day is a sign of its growing prominence in local schools.
Thomas Lawson, CITC Disability Apprentice, commenting on the day’s success, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many children taking part in disability sports.
“Everyone was smiling and laughing and really enjoyed the day as they developed a fundamental understanding of what disability sports entail.”
Crossacres Primary School’s PE Co-Ordinator, Victoria Grzelak, echoed Tom’s enthusiasm, declaring: “The event was brilliant!
“The children really enjoyed trying out the different sports on offer and meeting Moonchester and Moonbeam was a highlight for many of them.”
The inaugural Sports Day rounded off with One City’s Disability Coordinator, Paul Kelly, presenting the participants with medals and certificates in recognition of their efforts throughout the day.
For more information about our Schools Sports or Disability programmes, please contact Disability Coordinator, Paul Kelly on 0161 438 7834 or paul.kelly2@cityfootball.com
