Shuttlecocks and blocks as new Paralympic sports take a bow
The inclusion of taekwondo and badminton at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games is “game-changing” for the sports and will inspire more people to give them a go, GB Taekwondo CEO, Matt Archibald has said.
To showcase the newest Paralympic sports in action, The National Lottery has held an inclusive event at Liverpool’s Whiston Taekwondo Club.
Speaking at the event, Matt said, “For me, it’s [the inclusion of the 2 sports] game changing. We saw in 2000, when taekwondo came into the Olympic programme, that it gave the sport a massive boost and we’re seeing the same thing with para taekwondo now.
“Since the announcement we’ve been able to put on a full programme, which is National Lottery-funded, and we’ve got 4 athletes in the national training centre in Manchester training full-time.”
The event in Liverpool was part of a series of roadshows hosted by The National Lottery called Inspiring Communities. They are designed to help the nation engage in Olympic and Paralympic sport at grassroots level.
Isaak Dalglish, a young para badminton star, was at the event in Liverpool to talk about the sport and the effort to get more people on the court.
He said the fact para badminton matches in Tokyo were being screened by Channel 4 was hugely significant. He added, “It’s [mainstream TV] a platform where players can show themselves and prove themselves and show what this sport consists of. It’s massive for us and our ability to grow the sport.”
Another guest in Liverpool was Bradley Sinden, who won silver in the 68kg men’s taekwondo competition in Tokyo. He agreed the inclusion of taekwondo in the Paralympics was hugely significant. He said, “Now it’s been put in the Paralympics, that’s where it is becoming more mainstream. That’s where you can get a lot more people getting involved and events like this today highlight the sport’s development.
“Getting in the Olympics pushed it a lot and now getting in the Paralympics will push it and take the sport to the next level.”
National Lottery players’ support of ParalympicsGB athletes and new para sports is vital. If you’ve been inspired, visit www.parasport.org.uk to discover an inclusive community sport opportunity near you.
13th September 2021
Good Cause story - Getting a kick out of para sport
New Paralympic sports showcased in Liverpool
Good Cause story - Inspiring hoops and dreams
Courting new wheelchair basketball players
Good Cause story - Northampton’s pool of talent
Town’s 4 ParalympicGB stars inspire locals
Good Cause story - Dame Sarah inspires new riders
Tokyo gold medal gives para-cycling a boost
Good Cause story - Inspiring a new BMX generation
Silver medal drives kids to ride like Kye
Good Cause story - The women powering pool heroes
Coaches give Adam Peaty and Tom Daley the edge
Good Cause story - Hannah’s helping save the seas
Gold medal-winning sailor charts green course
Good Cause story - Learning to fly like Sky
Sky Brown’s Tokyo success inspires skaters
The National Lottery has been changing the lives of winners and supporting good causes across the UK since 1994. In that time, there have been more than 7,400 new millionaires created and by playing The National Lottery you raise over £4 million for Good Causes every dayΔ.
Discover more