Pictured: Chairman of the Council’s Leisure & Community Development Committee, Councillor Tim Morrow launches the PARA Club at Glenmore Activity Centre alongside Councillor Janet Gray and Councillor Johnny McCarthy.

A unique new sports club, inspired by the success of Northern Ireland’s Paralympians at the Rio Games, has been launched at Glenmore Activity Centre and will meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 9pm.

The PARA Sports Club is aimed at young people with a physical and/or sensory disability who are aged 15-30 years. The club is free of charge to participants and is facilitated by the Every Body Active (EBA) 2020 Team, partnering with a number of sporting governing bodies and Disability Sport NI.

Chairman of the Council’s Leisure & Community Development Committee, Councillor Tim Morrow said, “The Paralympics has provided many inspirational stories, watching sportsmen and women conquer adversity to compete at the highest level in their sporting discipline.

The PARA Club is inspired by the success of the Games and it is hoped the Club will encourage young people with a physical or sensory disability to get involved in sport and physical activity. There are an extensive range of sports to choose from including table tennis, badminton, athletics, goalball, cricket as well as wheelchair basketball, rugby, and hurling.

I would warmly encourage people to come along and try one of these sports which will hopefully lead to a lifetime of participation in physical activity or progression onto competition level.”

The PARA Club is supported by Councillor Janet Gray who is also Disability Sports NI current president and world champion water skier as well Councillor Johnny McCarthy who also plays wheelchair basketball at an international level.

The club will run on a weekly basis each Tuesday from 7:30pm-9pm until Christmas. The invitation is very much inclusive whereby the physical and sensory disabled participants are welcome to bring a friend or family member who can also take part in the sporting activities.

For further details on the PARA Sports Club and how to get involved, please contact EBA2020 Multi Sport & Physical Activity Leader Christine Duncan on 07786338030 or email christine.duncan@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk