Paralympics GB on hunt for aspiring athletes

Paralympics GB is looking for the next generation of athletes, like Hannah Cockroft pictured in Tokyo

Aspiring Paralympians in Somerset will be offered the chance to try out their favourite sports ahead of the Games in Paris later this year.

Paralympics GB is holding a "discover day" at the University of Bath, where coaches and athletes will be on hand to help budding sports stars take their first steps into becoming Paralympian.

Visitors to the event on Sunday can meet medallists from Paralympics GB and take part in sports such as swimming, archery and athletics.

Ben Quilter, a bronze medal-winning judoka, will head up the event.

'Really exciting opportunity'

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, he said the event hoped to introduce people with disabilities to sporting pathways.

"We know people with disabilities are often faced with a number of barriers around participation in sport.

"What we're trying to do is go one step further and use the Paralympic brand and sporting pathways to introduce people to something they might want to do or something they might want to aspire to."

He said the "discover days" were the first step "in people finding out what Paralympic sport is all about, navigating the complexities of classifications".

"We can definitely support and advise on a topic that is quite complicated," he added.

"Then there's the fun bit, where you get to go and try all the different sports... to see if you've got any raw talent. It's a really exciting opportunity for someone with a physical impairment."

'These events will open doors'

Mr Quilter added he wanted to introduce people to the "journey" of being an athlete, which included not only medals, but the friendships that could be made and the things you learned about yourself.

"To do sport at any level is fantastic and these events will hopefully open doors," he explained.

He added that while some sports had pathways of up to 10 years before athletes would compete at a professional level, he hoped the taster days would allow sporting bodies to engage with the public and support them to develop their skills.

"The impact of the Paralympic games is enourmous, so being apart of something super special is the best part of being a Paralympian," Mr Quilter said.