Putting the Wheels in Motion

Ballarat Wheel Chair Sports are putting a new spin on basketball, netball, shooting and other popular sports.

Mr David Stevens of Ballarat Wheel Chair sports is attempting to increase the number of people participating in wheel chair sports in the Ballarat region. Disabled and able-bodied people are encouraged to participate in all of the sports on offer, which could lead to playing at a higher level.

Training sessions are available once a week on Thursday nights at 5:30 till 6:30 pm, and the sports they play alternate from week to week.

Members of Wheel Chair Sports compete at a number of regular meets in Melbourne and also Country Victoria.

On a larger scale Wheel Chair Sports Victoria was formed in 1963 by a group of paraplegic and quadriplegic athletes who were dreaming of participating in the first National Wheel chair Games. At these inaugural Games there were 50 competitors, and nearly 30 years later the number of entrants exceeded 450.

Mr Stevens can see a tremendous future in wheel chair sports, particularly with the success of our Para-Olympians at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Derrick Gray
Youth@bility Reporter

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For more information on Ballarat Wheel Chair Sports please contact David Stevens on 5338 1392.