With the Union Flag still waving after ParalympicsGB’s success at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the red dragon is flying closer to home when it comes to Panathlon – with newly-announced figures confirming a big increase in events across Wales.
During the 2023/24 academic year there were 34 Panathlon events in Wales alone, up from 19 the previous year.
1,383 young people with additional needs took part, plus 410 young leaders, totalling 1,793 participants across 12 Welsh unitary areas.
One of the schools taking part in Panathlon events is Ysgol Bro Lleu, in Penygroes near Caernarfon, Gwynedd. They began participating in Panathlon in 2023 and have seen huge benefits already.
“We are a school of 200,” says teacher Llinos Owen. “Most competitions are about being the best and who’s going to win. With Panathlon, different children have had their chance to be in the spotlight, to enjoy their success, and represent the school. It’s been really good for them.”
Panathlon has delivered programmes in North Wales for nearly six years, but in South Wales for two, and is now a permanent fixture on many school calendars, exerting a positive influence on the lives of thousands of pupils with disabilities and additional learning needs, and helping to address some of the inequalities they sadly continue to encounter.
The increase in participation has come from Welsh-specific funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Neumark Foundation for North Wales, the Archbishop of Wales Fund for Children, Thomas Howell Education Fund for North Wales, Moondance Foundation, Welsh Water , Toyota Manufacturing Charitable Trust and Tennis Wales.
The Sport Wales School Sport Survey of 2022 highlighted many disparities in access to sport and physical activity between pupils with disabilities, impairments and additional learning needs (ALN) and their mainstream peers.
Two years on, ParalympicsGB marked their success at the Paris Games by launching their Equal Play campaign, calling for all children to have equal access to sport – part of Panathlon’s driving mission.
