More than 50 athletes with an intellectual impairment from across the region could have greater opportunities to compete in sporting competitions thanks to Moreton Bay Regional Council.
Spokesperson for Parks, Sport and Recreation Councillor Koliana Winchester said council has provided $15,000 to the Next Gen Athlete Program to support eligible athletes with an intellectual impairment to compete at regional, state, national and international-levels.
“One such international-level sporting competition these athletes will be striving to represent their country in is the INAS (International Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disability) Global Games,” she says.
Hosted every 4 years since 2004, the INAS Global Games involve more than 1000 athletes from over 80 countries, and between October 12 and 19 next year, the 5th edition of these games will be held in Brisbane.
Cr Winchester attended the Next Gen Athlete Grant Recipient Presentation event at The Corso in North Lakes recently to present certificates to seven grant recipients.
“This money will fund individual grants and scholarships which will assist athletes to cover the cost of common expenses such as sporting equipment, coaching fees and travel costs,” Cr Winchester said.
“Council is committed to working to remove barriers for all elite athletes in our region to have the opportunity to compete at the highest level of competition.
“I know the entire region will be behind the athletes when the games kick off in 2019 and we hope the support the young athletes receive through this program will go a small way to helping many of them follow their dreams.”