Campaigning

The UK Sports Association was one of the organisations leading a UK and worldwide campaign to lift the ban on athletes with learning disability (intellectual disability) competing in the Paralympic Games.

In November 2009, the Campaign came to a successful conclusion after 9 years of campaigning, when at the IPC General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur the ban was removed, subject to a number of areas of work being completed.

This has resulted in events being in the London 2012 Paralympic Games for athletes with Learning Disability in Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis.

The UK Sports Association would like to thank the thousands of supporters who made this campaign the success it was.

Read more about the history of this Campaign below.

London 2012 Paralympic Games Campaign

The 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games was the first time that athletes with learning disability had a complete programme of events that were fully included in the Paralympic Games with all of the other disability groups.

Unfortunately, it was discovered that some of the members of the Spanish Basketball Team who actually competed at the 2000 Games did not have a learning disability and they did not go through the proper classification process.

As a result the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), banned all athletes with learning disability from around the World and across all sports from competing at future Paralympic Games or other IPC competitions.

The IPC told the International Governing Body, INAS-FID that they must do 4 things before IPC would let athletes with learning disability back into the Games.

INAS-FID must remove from their jobs, all of the people involved in classification, since they didn't do their job properly.
INAS-FID must develop an acceptable eligibility and verification system to properly classify athletes with learning disability.
INAS-FID must work towards developing "sport specific" criteria.
INAS-FID must develop a rigid protest procedure in accordance with the IPC rulebook.

In 2004, after four years of work, lots of discussions and meetings INAS-FID sent a report to IPC. The report was written by independent experts who said that INAS-FID had met all of the conditions. The IPC did not agree and said that athletes with learning disability would not be in the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.

INAS-FID objected, and the work and discussions continued. In November 2007, the IPC said that they still did not think INAS-FID had met the conditions. The IPC announced that athletes with learning disability would not be in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

What is the Current Position?

On 13th September 2008, during the Beijing Paralympic Games, INAS-FID and IPC issued a joint statement to tell us about the work they have been doing since November 2007. You can read the full statement here (pdf).

The statement shows that some progress has been made. It shows that INAS-FID and IPC are working together to try and solve the problems. However, it also shows that no firm decision has been made about allowing athletes with learning disability into the London 2012 Paralympic Games and that the IPC still expect a lot more work before they will allow athletes back into the Games. No decision will be made until November 2009.

This is very disappointing. The continued IPC ban means athletes with learning disability do not have the same funding or training opportunities as other athletes who are already preparing for London 2012 and there is still no guarantee that IPC will remove this unjust ban.

What is UKSA's Position?

UKSA believes strongly that athletes with learning disability should have the same right as any other athlete to compete at the Paralympic Games. UKSA wants to see athletes with learning disability competing in a fair and open competition at the Games and believes that INAS-FID have a strong classification process that will make this happen.

UKSA is disappointed that IPC have not made a firm decision about London 2012 and believes the IPC ban is unfair and unjust and should not be allowed to continue. UKSA wants IPC to say now that athletes with learning disability will be in the London 2012 Paralympic Games and not delay until November 2009.

On 15 September 2008, UKSA released a response to the recent INAS-FID and IPC statement. You can read the full response from UKSA here (pdf).

UKSA wants the Prime Minister, British Government, the Local Organising Committee of the 2012 Games (LOCOG), and the Mayor of London to publicly say that they want athletes with learning disability in the London 2012 Games and to use their influence to make sure that IPC lift the ban in time to make this happen.

UKSA supports INAS-FID in its research and other work to end the ban.

UKSA wants financial support released immediately to help UKSA and its GB athletes to attend events to take part in and fully support the INAS-FID research and also, and very importantly, to allow GB athletes with learning disability equal access to funding to train and properly prepare for London 2012.

Why is this Campaign so important?

Sport for people with learning disability in the UK and around the world is struggling to develop at an appropriate level because of the continued ban. Being part of the Paralympic Games is an ambition that many competitive athletes dream of and work towards. This has been taken away from athletes with learning disability.

It has been eight long years since athletes with learning disability have been allowed to compete at the Paralympic Games and other IPC events. Because of the ban, funding has stopped. This means that some athletes can't afford to train at the levels they need to reach Paralympic standards and many are forced to pay for themselves to compete in the GB Team - others have left sport completely. These athletes are the role models that inspire new competitors to get involved - without them, new talent may dwindle and we will not be able to develop the Champions of the future.

The impact of the ban in the UK goes on. Some sports programmes in the UK exclude athletes with learning disability because of the ban. Some young athletes just starting out are stopped from competing. An example of this is the UK School Games. In 2008 there were just 4 table tennis players with learning disability allowed to take part in the UK School Games and on an "exhibition basis" only. There were no events for young people with learning disability in any other sport.

There are examples all over Great Britain where athletes with learning disability are treated differently because of the impact of the IPC ban. The effect varies dependant on where an athlete lives.

The ending of the IPC ban would open the door to funding opportunities, support training and development and allow this dedicated group of athletes the opportunity to represent Great Britain at the biggest sporting event of any athlete's career - the Paralympic Games.

How can you get involved?

Whilst UKSA is working hard on this Campaign and with other organisations that support this Campaign, you can make a difference too and help us to get this ban lifted.

You can support the Campaign by

writing to your local MP, the Mayor of London and the Local Organising Committee of the 2012 Games (LOCOG) asking them to use their influence to end the ban.
supporting athletes with learning disability in your area and those in the GB Team.
contacting local newspapers to tell them about the Campaign and asking them to support it.
by encouraging others to get involved to help us to end the ban.

For more information on the Campaign and how to get involved, contact us at the UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability.