Paralympics: Athletes with learning disabilities to compete
It’s been 12 years since athletes with learning disabilities competed in The Paralympic games. This year British athletes with learning disabilities will compete in athletics, swimming and table tennis, and they may compete in more events in Rio 2016. National sports manager from Mencap said, ‘A learning disability is an unseen disability and can be more difficult to understand in a sporting environment. A learning disability affects the way someone's brain works. So in sport it might affect their ability to think strategically or in running it might be the way they pace themselves during a race.’ Paralympic swimmer Dan Pepper struggles to remember how many lengths he has done or which stroke he is doing, but said he has coping strategies to overcome the problem. He said, ‘I'm quite different to most other swimmers’ they like to be really rested but I like to swim quite hard before I race.’ For insights into understanding adults with special needs go to http://www.prospects.org.uk/
Pray: for people to have a greater understanding of how to value and support people with learning disabilities so that they live their lives to the full. (Ecc.7:8)
First Paralympic opening night Community Festival at Stoke Mandeville
Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, is to host the world's first Paralympic opening night community festival. According to a news release, the event will feature adults and children of different abilities having fun together. The free event, from 6pm to 10 pm on Aug. 29 marks the opening of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Between three to five thousand people will experience huge inflatable games, opportunities to try Paralympic sports, a multi-sensory zone, art and craft activities, puppets and giant bubbles. The news release said the opening ceremony will be shown on a big screen, accompanied by a free barbeque. The organizers are the Aylesbury Churches Network, comprising 14 churches of different denominations. The group is also underwriting the costs and providing at least 200 volunteers on the night. The Aylesbury churches are working with More Than Gold, the agency helping churches use the Games to serve its communities and visitors.
Pray: that the festival will bring a wonderful spirit of unity with those of different abilities sharing together. (Php.2:1-2)
Ellie Simmonds aims to inspire at London Games
Four years ago Ellie Simmonds burst into public consciousness amidst an eruption of tears which followed her historic 100m freestyle victory in Beijing. Great Britain's youngest-ever Paralympic champion at 13 went on to claim another gold in the 400m six days later and the teenager returned to the UK as the new superstar of her sport. Simmonds though is not someone who craves the limelight and she admits that her journey from China to London has not been an easy one. ‘I loved every moment of Beijing and when it finished I was on such a low,’ Simmonds told BBC Sport. It has also taken the swimmer time to adjust to her near celebrity status and frequently being stopped in the street by members of the public requesting photographs. ‘Sometimes you think 'can you just leave me alone' and I can become a bit agitated, but you just have to roll with it.’
Pray: for all athletes that they would be an inspiration to other participants and to those who will watch. (2Cor.3:13)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19361665
Tough employment outlook faces young people
Young people finishing school, college or university this summer are facing the toughest outlook since 1994, according to a Trades Union Congress (TUC) analysis. The TUC report, published last week, looks at both employment and education trends over the last 20 years, shows that the proportion of young people in full-time education has nearly doubled from 24 per cent in 1992 to 41 per cent in 2012. Despite this surge in education, the proportion of young people who are neither working nor studying full-time today remains close to record levels at 20.4 per cent, the highest level since October 1994. The TUC is concerned that with 488,000 16-24 year olds currently out of work for at least six months - a figure that is rising even as overall unemployment falls - the country risks losing a generation of young people to unemployment and under-achievement before their careers have even begun.
Pray: for young people as they face the challenges of work and the toughest economic climate for nearly 20 years. (Eph.2:10)
