LJMU celebrates Paralympics with Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson

Sport experts at LJMU are backing the “transformational power” of the Paralympic Games, which start today in Tokyo.

LJMU was the first UK university to run sport science degrees and has a long history of encouraging engagement in sport and physical exercise for all.

Dr Tabo Huntley, a researcher in para-athlete coaching and lead investigator for the European ParaCoach project with the European Athletics Coaches Association, said: “I hope everyone is excited at the start of this Paralympic Games, which showcases athletes’ ability and their disability together.

“I love the fact that these Games can be used as a vehicle to challenge our perceptions of disability and our sense of what is normal.”

LJMU is proud to be leading two events, one during the Games and one later in November, both showcasing diversity in sport and sport science and coaching expertise.

Frank Dick, OBE

The first is the ParaCoach Athletics Club Tokyo – a two-part webinar 23^rd August and 6^th Sept 18.00 – 19.30, which brings together global experts in preparing Paralympians as part of the Erasmus-funded ParaCoach project.

Among the participants is Frank Dick, OBE, who said: “The European Athletics Coaches Association is delighted to be working with Liverpool John Moores University in this initiative. Top coaches from the international coaching community will lead discussion, as panellists, by leveraging the real time experience of the Games to enrich coaches’ learning.”

LJMU alumnus to front Paralympic Games coverage​

Then in November, the university hosts The ‘Celebrating Sport and Physical Activity’ Conference (11 – 12 November) which features Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL, one of Great Britain’s most successful para athletes and a LJMU Honorary Fellow.

Added Tabo: “We have some exceptional speakers lined up covering high performance, community and school sport, physical activity and academia.”

Community action

“Watching the Games over the coming fortnight, I hope that people will not only marvel at the performance but also consider how they too can support the full inclusion of people with disabilities in their community.”