By Paul Evans
The third Para Sport Festival (8-14 July, 2024) is launched in Swansea on Thursday, unveiling a number of top-level tournaments and the popular SPAR insport Series day.
Designed to inspire and encourage people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport, Welsh Government, Swansea Council, national governing bodies, Swansea University, SPAR and Disability Sport Wales have all come together for a third consecutive year to bring a week-long, multi-sport, multi-venue festival to the Swansea Bay region.
Building on the success of the last two years, the 2024 Para Sport Festival will feature more national status tournaments, more competitors from overseas and more opportunities to get involved – as a participant, volunteer or spectator.
This year’s Para Sport Festival begins on Monday 8 July with one of the biggest free participation days on the Disability Sport Wales calendar, when the SPAR insport Series event will take place at Swansea University’s Singleton Park Campus.
Over 20 different sports – delivered under the guidance of qualified coaches – will be available for people of all ages and abilities to come and try for free at the Indoor Athletics Track and outside on the running track and hockey pitch.
Local schools will be invited to attend, while individuals and families can also register on-line.
The @dsw_news Para Sport Festival is happening in Swansea this week #PSF23☀️
We spoke to @JAVELINSTEPHENS and @Morgan_Jones47 to hear how the festival can introduce people to new sports – and even be a pathway to becoming a Paralympian. pic.twitter.com/qxKCo4DBJo
— Welsh Government Culture and Sport (@WGCulture) July 13, 2023
The Boccia UK Team Championships takes centre stage when it returns for a second year.
Taking place over two days (Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 July) the tournament will see a host of competitions including singles, pairs and teams.
Swansea is the home of triple gold medal-winning Paralympian and world number one, David Smith OBE.
Shooting has been a strong part of both the previous Para Sport Festivals, and the Welsh Shooting – British Open Championships return in 2024.
The event will be held over three days (Friday 12 to Sunday 14 July) in the Swansea Indoor Tennis Centre.
Judo comes to the Para Sport Festival for the first time in 2024, and the EJU Get Together Tour on Saturday 13 July will be one of the biggest tournaments the festival has hosted.
Brought to Swansea by Welsh Judo and British Judo, the event will attract some of the top para-Judo athletes from across the UK and Europe.
The Welsh Wheelchair Rugby Open returns, with three teams from Wales – Ospreys, Newport Dragons and RGC – competing against teams from England on Saturday 13 July.
Table Tennis comes to the Para Sport Festival for the first time, with the BPTT Swansea Open taking place on the same day.
Here’s Keira from @PentrerGraig in Morriston, Swansea, having fun trying out rhythmic gymnastics for the first time at the Para Sport Festival yesterday!#PSF23 @dsw_news @SwanseaCouncil @WGCulture @Laura_Halford @gemmafrizelle pic.twitter.com/q4IMNx2pG1
— Welsh Gymnastics (@WelshGymnastics) July 12, 2023
Delivered by British Para Table Tennis, the tournament will include Class Singles, Class Mixed Doubles and Junior Mixed Singles and will be held at the Swansea Indoor Tennis Centre.
Prior to the main Para Sport Festival week, there will be a Wales Physical Disability Rugby League vs Physical Disability Rugby League All Stars match on Friday 21 June – the day before the World Triathlon Para Series event.
The match will see the home nation side play against an invitation home nations team at St Helen’s.
The 2024 World Triathlon Para Series returns for a third time to the SA1 Waterfront on Saturday 22 June.
The event will welcome the very best para-triathletes from across the world, with Britain’s top para-triathletes competing for vital Paris 2024 Paralympic Games qualification points in front of a home crowd.
There are also plans for an event for children and young people, introducing them to the sport.
Scottish Boccia players Kayleigh Haggo and Alex Medley players will travel to Swansea, Wales to compete in the 2023 Para Sport Festival Teams & Pairs Championships on the 12/13 July.https://t.co/sd4eLMStHL pic.twitter.com/kAVBfA3HcX
— Scottish Disability Sport (@SDS_sport) July 5, 2023
Wales’ reigning Paralympic, World, Commonwealth and European shot put champion Aled Sion Davies said: When London won the bid to host the 2012 Paralympic Games, for me it was a dream ignited and I knew that I just had to be there and compete at those Games.
“But I knew it wasn’t going to be in swimming. I’d represented Wales at swimming when I was younger and I knew I would have got there eventually with hard work, but I equally knew that it’s not where my hidden talent was.
“And I’m a firm believer that everyone has a hidden talent somewhere.
“I got the opportunity to come along to a Disability Sport Wales event, very similar to the Para Sport Festival, in 2005 to try out athletics with a group of elite Paralympians.
“That’s where I picked up a shot put and discus for the first time and it enabled me to unlock a gift that I didn’t know I had – a hidden talent for throwing.
“At the same time, it opened opportunities to explore para sport and meet loads of different para-athletes – and that’s crucial because it develops so many different skills and you end up being part of a community that really is something special.
“So, please take advantage of the Para Sport Festival, especially the insport Series day on Monday 8 July, and come and try out all the different sports that will be on offer. You might unlock your hidden talent, just like I did.”
2023 WORLD TRIATHLON PARA SERIES SWANSEA TO FEATURE PIONEERING FESTIVAL OF SWIM, BIKE, RUN FOR THOSE WITH https://t.co/dbXL3wg3JH
— Able Magazine (@ablemag) June 20, 2023
To register to compete and/or volunteer at the Para Sport Festival, please go to: parasportfestival.co.uk