Dwarf Sports Association UK

The Dwarf Sports Association UK (DSAUK)[1] aims to "make regular sporting opportunities accessible and enjoyable to ... everyone of restricted growth in the United Kingdom".[2] The Association was founded by Arthur Dean and fellow members of the Restricted Growth Association (RGA) at the October 1993 RGA Annual Conference.[3] This followed Dean's participation in the first World Dwarf Games in Chicago, organised by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA). In 2014 Arthur and Penny Dean were both honoured with OBEs for their work over many years supporting and developing sport for people with Dwarfism and Restricted growth.[4]

The Association has organised the UK National Dwarf Games since 1995. The 2014 event, in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, attracted about 200 athletes.[3] In 2015 the Association launched a national Sport and Physical Activity Survey, with the aim of improving opportunities for people of restricted growth to take part in sporting activities.[5]

Aims

The DSAuk promotes grass roots participation starting young athletes from the age of two. We use sport as a tool to break down the barriers of difference within society and to encourage confidence and empower our members. It is so important that the our members feel valued and that they can do anything in life. We empower people to go on to enjoy all kinds of sport, in which they can compete equally and should they wish to go further we guide them on to the correct pathway to world class performance within the National Governing Bodies of Sport as with our most successful paralympians, Ellie Simmonds and Matt Whorwood have done.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Grassroots Sport and the European Union: 16th Report of Session 2010-11. House of Lords Papers: The Stationery Office. 2011. p. 49. ISBN 9780108473319.
  2. ↑ "Dwarf Sports Association UK". Well Aware. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 Lee, Matt (3 May 2014). "National Dwarf Games is about 'ability not disability'". BBC News.
  4. ↑ "Queen's Birthday Honours: Couple who set up Dwarf Sports Association given OBEs". Greater Manchester News. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Dwarf Sports Association UK urges people with dwarfism and restricted growth to complete national survey". Able magazine. 20 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "History of the DSAuk".

External links


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