Paralympians call for equal access to school sport

Britain's Paralympic stars person called connected Prime Minister Keir Starmer to insist that abnormal children person adjacent entree to schoolhouse sport.

The Great Britain squad returned from nan 2024 Paralympics successful Paris connected Monday having vanished second successful nan badge array down China pinch 124 medals, including 49 golds.

Multiple golden medallists Dame Sarah Storey, Alice Tai and Maisie Summers-Newton were among those who arrived by Eurostar astatine St Pancras railway station.

Earlier successful nan day, an unfastened missive was sent to nan UK Government by ParalympicsGB stating that only 1 successful 4 abnormal children regularly takes portion successful schoolhouse sport.

It followed nan motorboat past week of nan Equal Play campaign,, external calling connected nan authorities to guarantee "every kid has nan aforesaid entree to PE astatine school, alternatively than leaving them sidelined".

"There are 1.5 cardinal abnormal children - 15% of nan schoolhouse organization - and it is shocking that specified a ample number of young group do not person nan chance to participate successful athletics and create and turn arsenic a result," nan missive read.

"As Paralympians, and arsenic abnormal people, we are much wished than ever to usage this level to do each we tin to forestall nan adjacent procreation of children being near connected nan sidelines successful nan birthplace of nan Paralympic movement."

The missive called connected nan authorities to springiness teachers nan basal training, nan correct devices and nan knowing to present "truly inclusive beingness education".

The wide extremity is that by nan Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, "no abnormal kid faces this discrimination".

Great Britain's 49 golden medals was their highest tally since Rio 2016, pinch medals successful 18 of nan 19 sports they entered.

GB's cook de ngo Penny Briscoe told nan BBC she was "delighted" pinch nan unthinkable squad capacity and could not beryllium "happier", praising nan "depth of talent crossed nan sports".

"The ambition is to stay a world starring nationalist Paralympic committee," she added.

BBC Sport has asked nan authorities for comment.