Assembly and Mayor call for disabled sport boost

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Sep 2006

Disabled Londoners are at risk of missing out on the 2012 Paralympic Games and the benefits of their legacy, the London Assembly warns today.

An investigation by the Assembly's Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee reveals poor standards in the capital's sports facilities, which must dramatically improve for people with disabilities.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is backing the recommendations in the Assembly's report, which examined ways to ensure the 2012 Games benefits disabled people.

The Committee highlights a number of barriers to disabled people participating in sports: inaccessible facilities for disabled users, sports coaches ill-equipped to support disabled athletes, and a poor attitude of staff towards people with disabilities. One in seven people with disabilities surveyed by Sport England said they had a negative experience in sport due to their health problem or disability.

Only nine London boroughs employ a disability sports development officer and eight have no officer with a remit for disability sport.

The investigation also found that many teachers lack training to properly teach sports to disabled pupils. Committee Members are now calling on the Department for Education and Skills to publish data as a matter of urgency on the amount of high quality physical education received by pupils.

Poor transport to venues is preventing disabled people of all ages taking part in physical activity. Many children travel up to two hours to appropriate facilities.

Transport for London's (TfL) new door-to-door strategy for disabled people is welcomed. But travel times could be reduced if more public sector vehicles were shared across boroughs, like those owned by schools, hospitals and social services departments. The Committee also urges TfL to increase its target of achieving a quarter of step-free access Tube stations by 2012.

The report has a series of recommendations to improve the situation for disabled sports men, women and young people in the capital, including:

A travel hotline set up by TfL to help callers with disabilities plan their journey

A one stop shop website for information on opportunities for sportspeople with disabilities

Adequate sports training for teachers to assist them in classes with special needs children

Sport England's 'Inclusive Fitness Mark', the industry's kite mark, should be extended and funding restricted to facilities that are improving services to disabled people

Dee Doocey AM, Chair of the Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee, said: "Access to sport for children with special needs is disgracefully neglected. The UK's success in the 2012 Paralympic Games depends on every one of the building blocks described in our report - sharing best practice across boroughs, better equipped schools, welcoming club facilities and an effective, fully integrated, transport system.

"If we honour the promises made in London's bid, young athletes with disabilities from every borough will represent their country in 2012. But as things stand, there is a high risk they will not. We have six years to get this right and the work must begin now."

Ken Livingstone Mayor of London said: "It is clear that there must be no let up in our collective efforts to increase sporting opportunities for disabled Londoners. Six years from now we want to welcome the world's elite Paralympians to the city that has made most progress in making itself accessible to disabled people and which aims to give its disabled citizens the maximum opportunity to participate in the 2012 Games and benefit from their legacy."

Mike Brace OBE, Chairman of the British Paralympic Association, said: "This report highlights some useful issues and shows us the work that needs to be done to improve sporting opportunities for the disabled community in London. If we work together to achieve these improvements we could be the envy of the world and improve the quality of life for many people. The London 2012 Paralympic Games gives us a fantastic opportunity to put the issue of sporting facilities for the disabled on the agenda, and to leave a lasting legacy."