London 2012 blog

The power and values of the Paralympic Games were beautifully demonstrated on Sept 17 in Northern Ireland, when Education Minister, Catriona Ruane MLA, and Minister Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Gregory Campbell MLA MP, visited a local school to celebrate Paralympic Handover and the launch of LOCOG's Education Programme, 'Get Set'.

The venue for this event could not have been more appropriate in Oakgrove Integrated College, Derry, which enables young people from across an ever more diverse community to benefit from sports and education together, what better place to raise awareness of the Olympic and Paralympic values, in particular international links, respect and friendship, pursuit of excellence, and respect for community and the environment?

Providing the impetus on this emotional occasion were Paralympian double Gold medallist, Angela Hendra MBE pictured below, and four-times World Disabled Water-Ski Champion, Janet Gray MBE, who is blind.


Angela, who has been wheelchair-bound from the age of 12, first learned of the Paralympic Games whilst a patient at Stoke Mandeville hospital in 1960, as the GB team for the Rome Games was being announced. This inspired Angela's imagination and she dreamed of one day travelling to a great city herself, to take part in the Paralympic Games. Following 12 years of courage and determination, that dream became a reality and more, when she won her first gold medal in Paralympic Table Tennis at the Munich Games in 1972.

Angela spoke to a rapt audience of young people, as she vividly described her journey to Paralympic success, providing inspiration to both the pre-teen and some middle-aged children in the packed gymnasium.


Both politicians spoke to the assembled students from Oakgrove and surrounding primary schools, before Elaine Reid and Aubrey Bingham from NI Disability Sports, presented a fascinating history of the Paralympic Games.


It was a privilege to attend this tremendous event which provided all assembled with true inspiration for change.