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WheelPoweris the nationalorganisationforwheelchairsportsin the United Kingdom, and aims to help people with disabilities improve their quality of life.
Formally named theBritish Wheelchair Sports Foundation,it is aregistered charity[1]and is based atStoke Mandeville StadiuminBuckinghamshire.The charity's royal patron isSophie, Duchess of Edinburghwho succeeded KingCharles IIIin that role. Its other patrons includeBaroness Tanni Grey-ThompsonandAde Adepitan.
History
editWheelPower originally formed in 1972as the British Paraplegic Sports Society.
The organisation was founded by the late Professor SirLudwig Guttmann,who revolutionised the treatment of people with spinal cord injury atStoke Mandeville Hospitalin the late 1940s.Guttmannbegan 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 worldwide 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, theOlympicswere 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, theParalympicswere born. The first Winter Paralympics were held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden in 1976.
Since 1988, the Summer Paralympics have been held in the conjunction with theOlympic Gamesin 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.
WheelPower
editSince the early days of Guttmann, WheelPower has developed a range of sports activities and nowadays works with Sports Associations.
WheelPower employs Physical Activity Advisors, often those who have been successful Para sports athletes, to work in many of the U.K. Spinal Injuries Units.
The provision of sporting facilities atStoke Mandevillestarted in the 1940s and in 1969 theStoke Mandeville Stadiumwas opened by QueenElizabeth II.
In 1984 the centre played host to theParalympic Gameswith some 1200 athletes taking part in a festival of sport.
WheelPower organises a range of events to assist Sports Associations developwheelchair sportwithin the UK. WheelPower also organises a variety of opportunities for disabled children and adults, these include:
Inter Spinal Unit Games
editAnnually hosted Games for recently paralysed patients of the 12 Spinal Units within the UK and Ireland providing coaching and an opportunity to trywheelchair sportincluding a fun introductory competition. Previous attendees include Paralympic athleteMatt Skelhon.
National Wheelchair Sport Championships
editTogether with a number of Sports Associations it organises the National Wheelchair Sport Championships. Some of these events have been expanded to include an international element to provide increased competition for participants.
Sports
editWheelPower supports, among others, the following sports: