ParalympicsGB athletes will visit Nottingham in September as part of a free Brazilian-style carnival to celebrate the Paralympic Games in Rio.
The ParalympicsGB Carnival, organised by the British Paralympic Association with the support of Nottingham City Council, will be one of just six events taking place around Britain to promote the ParalympicsGB team and showcase disability sport in general during the Games. It will take place on Saturday 17 September in the Old Market Square. Further details will be announced nearer the time but people will be able to meet Paralympic medallists, try disability sports and enjoy some Brazilian-themed entertainment.
The event will build on the success of last year’s National Paralympic Day, which involved athletes including Sophie Wells and retired athlete Tim Reddish OBE plus the chance to have a go at such sports as tennis and wheelchair basketball. It will be funded by Spirit of 2012, a trust established by the Big Lottery Fund to recreate the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Spirit is committed to funding partners who help challenge perceptions of disability.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “One of our ambitions is to make Nottingham the fastest growing city for disability sports participation in the country. The ParalympicsGB Carnival will give people a taster of the disability sports that are on offer in Nottingham and highlight the fantastic achievements of the Paralympic athletes competing in Rio. There will be a carnival atmosphere and it will all be a lot of fun.”
Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, said: “It is incredibly exciting to announce that we will hold ParalympicsGB Carnival events. We know the public will be keen to try out the sports featured in the Paralympic Games, meet Paralympians and find out more about local clubs as well as take the opportunity to have a bit of Brazil come to the UK too this summer.
“The Carnivals build on our incredibly successful National Paralympic Days over the last three years. In the year of a summer games we want to inspire people and give them a chance to have fun and learn more about the Paralympic Games and to get behind the ParalympicsGB team and feel connected to what will be happening in Rio in September this year, and we are confident this is an excellent way to achieve our ambition.”