28 August 2008

Mencap pressures government over Paralympics

Calls for ban to be overturned in time for London 2012 as focus turns to Beijing Paralympics.

Mencap is campaigning for the ban on athletes with a learning disability competing in the Paralympics to be overturned in time for the London Olympics in 2012. The ban has been in place since the Sydney Games in 2000, when members of the Spanish basketball team falsely claimed to have a learning disability.

Despite the ongoing anger and disappointment of the athletes, the ban will remain until sporting bodies are able to agree on a suitable registering system.

Thousands of pounds worth of funding has been cut as a result of the ban, as elite sport funding is only available to athletes who will be medal hopefuls in Paralympic competition.

Mencap wants the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to work with the governing bodies of sport to make funding available immediately in order for athletes to be fully trained to compete in London 2012.

Dame Jo Williams, Mencap's chief executive, said: "It is unjustifiable that elite athletes with a learning disability are banned from competing in the Paralympic Games. Their Paralympic dream has been snatched away through no fault of their own.

"Mencap wants to see the ban lifted and appropriate funding put into place immediately, otherwise these brilliant athletes will not be able to compete in London 2012. This would be hugely embarrassing for London and a terrible disgrace."

A meeting of the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) taking place over the coming weeks at the Beijing Paralympics could determine the future of international learning disability sport.

The Mencap Paralympic campaign