The community celebrates the 100-day countdown of the Parasport Games at Pickering High School.
November 1 marked the start of the 100-day countdown to the Parasport Games happening in Durham. Durham Region organized a countdown event that was held at Pickering HS. Students from Lincoln Avenue PS, St. Francis De Sales Catholic School, Lincoln Alexander PS, Eagle Ridge PS, and Pickering HS participated in the celebration. They learned about what it means to be a para-athlete, by playing wheelchair basketball, boccia and sitting volleyball.
The Parasport Games will be held February 8-10, 2019. According to organizers there will be about 350 athletes from across Ontario competing in various sports such as wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey, boccia and many more.
“This is very exciting! It is the first time that we are hosting the Parasport games in Durham,” says Emmy Iheme, Co-Chair of Ontario Parasport Games. “What makes it special is the fact that we are actually giving our own local athletes and our community an opportunity to see how amazing para-athletes can be. And we are also exposing our elementary and secondary school kids to the Parasport Games.”
Aspire and focus on your abilities
Randy Tennant, Principal at Pickering HS, said, “Our students got to see a different side of sports. It showed them that all people can be involved in different kinds of sports.” He added that not only did the students have a chance to play the sports and volunteer, it was also a great growth opportunity for them.
Isshika Adalath is a Grade 11 student at Pickering High School. She volunteered at the event and says that sports are for everyone. “Even though someone is paralyzed, they can still do things that other people do.”
Iheme hopes that this event encourages people, “to explore their abilities, because it’s not about the disability, it’s about using what you have and being the best at it.”
Tennant echoed Iheme’s message and added that the day was inspiring for everyone, especially for the students to see that no matter the challenge they may have, there is something that they can be involved in.
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