Be a Paralympian of tomorrow
Have you been inspired by the Paralympics and want to be the next Hannah Russell or Anthony Kappes? This guide tells you how to get started in your sport of choice.
If you're aged 4–16, our Actionnaires activities are a great way to get into sport. Find out if there are any Actionnaires events near you.
If there's a sport you're already interested in, contact one of the sporting bodies below to take the next step.
Swimming
British Swimming are holding a talent scouting session at the start of November at various locations across the UK. Email them at disability@swimming.org by Friday 19 October 2012 to be considered. Check out the British Swimming website for more details.
Cycling
If you've been inspired by the goings on in the velodrome or on the road at Brands Hatch, the first thing you should do is get in touch with British Cycling. They can then tell you what's available based on where you live. All of British Cycling’s schemes and opportunities to get involved in riding and coaching are open to everyone – regardless of age, ability or interest. Contact them on 0161 274 2060 or coaching@britishcycling.org.uk
Football
Five-a-side football can be played by blind and partially sighted people. There are a number of sporting bodies involved in five-a-side football, including The FA National Blind Futsal League, and Futsal UK.
Goalball
Goalball UK are holding open training sessions at their clubs across the country from September to December. Go to the Goalball website to see where and when the sessions are taking place.
Archery
At present there is little in the way of competitive archery tournaments for visually impaired people in Britain. However, there are plans underway to hold a test tournament in 2013 with a view to competing in Bangkok the same year.
Judo
Want to be the next Ben Quilter or Sam Ingram? Britain has a thriving visually impaired judo scene and all clubs and coaches will work closely with you to ensure all your needs are accommodated. All 900 of British Judo's clubs offer a free first lesson, so you can find out if you like it before going further. To find a club near you, go to the British Judo website.
Athletics
The UK Athletics Academy runs a programme called Parallel Success in conjunction with Aviva to help aspiring Paralympians of the future to get involved and test their skills. You can register with UK Athletics directly, or get in touch with their coaches if you live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Rowing
There are an increasing number of rowing clubs across England that offer adaptive rowing facilities for people with visual impairments. Find the team leader for your area from the British Rowing website, or email madeleine.millichap@britishrowing.org
Other sports
Check out the Parasports website to find clubs and associations for lots of sports, including those above, near you.
