WheelPower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WheelPower is the national organisation and registered charity in England for British Wheelchair Sport. It aims to help people with disabilities improve their quality of life.

1 History
2 The Future of WheelPower
3 WheelPower Sports
4 Partners
5 External links

[edit] History

WheelPower originally formed in 1972 as the British Paraplegic Sports Society.

The organisation was founded by the late Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann, who revolutionised the treatment of people with spinal cord injury at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the late 1940's. Guttmann began using sport as a vital part of the rehabilitation of Second World War veterans and in 1948 he set up a competition between sports clubs and other hospitals to coincide with the London Olympic Games.

From those early days a World-wide sports movement has developed for not only those with spinal injuries but also many other different types of disability.

In 1952 competitors from the Netherlands took part in the competition, giving an international notion to the movement.

In 1960, the Olympics were held in Rome, and Guttmann brought 400 wheelchair athletes to the Olympic city to compete. Although officially called the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, the Paralympics were born. The first Winter Paralympics were held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden in 1976.

From those early days a World-wide sports movement has developed for not only those with spinal injuries but also many other different types of disability.

In 1984 the centre played host to the Paralympic Games with some 1200 athletes taking part in a festival of sport.

Since 1988, the Summer Paralympics have been held in the conjunction with the Olympic Games in the same host city and this practice was adopted in 1992 for the Winter Paralympics.

The name Paralympics derives from the Greek "para" ("beside" or "alongside") and thus refers to a competition held in parallel with the Olympic Games. No relation with paralysis or paraplegia was intended.

[edit] The Future of WheelPower

Since the early days of Guttmann, WheelPower has developed a range of sports activities and nowadays works with our Sports Associations to deliver a bright future for wheelchair sport.

The provision of sporting facilities at Stoke Mandeville started in the 1940's and in 1969 the Stoke Mandeville Stadium was opened by Her Majesty The Queen.

In 1984 the centre played host to the Paralympic Games with some 1200 athletes taking part in a festival of sport.

WheelPower organises a range of events to assist our Sports Associations develop wheelchair sport within the UK. WheelPower also organises a variety of opportunities for disabled children and adults, these include:

Norwich Union Junior Heroes Programme
WheelPower and Norwich Union have teamed up to to provide a programme of sporting activities for children with a physical disability including: - Regional Sports Camps for children aged 6 - 18 - Norwich Union National Junior Games for children aged 11 - 18

There will be a number of Regional Sports Camps throughout the UK, if you would like more details contact WheelPower on 01296 395995.

Inter Spinal Unit Games
Annually hosted Games for recently paralysed patients of the 12 Spinal Units within the UK and Ireland providing coaching and an opportunity to try wheelchair sport including a fun introductory competition.

National Wheelchair Championships
Together with a number of our Sports Associations we organise the National Wheelchair Sport Championships. Some of these events have been expanded to include an international element to provide increased competition for participants.