Five disabled athletes, including one from Grimsby, are preparing to compete in the Paralympic Games after receiving specialist equipment from a national charity.

Javelin thrower Hollie Arnold, 100m and 200m runner Jamie Carter, discus thrower Kieran Tcherniawsky, wheelchair fencer Justine Moore; and boccia player Jessica Hunter will take part in the Games from August 29.

Boccia player Jessica, 20, from Middlesex, studied at Treloar College in Hampshire, and won gold in the BC3 Pairs at the London 2012 Test Event.

The team were selected to represent Team GB after receiving specialist support from Caudwell Children’s Enable Sports service

via Charity backs Paralympic athletes – News – Bourne Local.

The 2012 Olympics have already been described as “happy and glorious” by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and those sentiments will apply equally to the Paralympics, which get under way on Aug 29 and should provide the perfect ending to a remarkable summer festival of sport.

via London 2012 Paralympics: a historic homecoming for disabled sport – Telegraph.

The Boccia tournament, as part of The Caversham Games, was hosted by The Hill Primary on Thursday, July 5, 2012. The seven schools which had entered the tournament arrived to glorious sunshine (something that had not happened for many of the other events that week). The day was a huge success; it was the experience of a lifetime to film and report.

Boccia is a relatively unknown sport. It is similar to bowls in that you have to roll a jack ball and then each team takes it in turns to roll their coloured ball to try to get close to the jack. You have to be careful to not roll the ball out, otherwise it won’t count.

via Caversham Olympics: Boccias – Education – News – getreading – Reading Post.

PARALYMPIAN Dan Bentley, who is known as the Bentley Bomber by his team mates, was the guest speaker at the most recent meeting of thebestofthaverhill, which took place at Days Inn, Haverhill.

Dan plays the paralympic sport of Boccia, which is similar to bowls and for athletes with severe disabilities such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.

He won a gold medal with the Boccia Team in Beijing 2008 and has been selected to represent Team GB again at London 2012.

via Paralympian inspires Haverhill business community – Latest News – Haverhill Echo.

ANNET House Museum in is featuring a special display on local Olympic torch-bearer Andrew Slack.Andrew 22 carried the Olympic flame in Dunfermline on June 13 and his torch, London 2012 kit, and silverware is now in a display case at the High Street museum.Andrew has severe learning difficulties as well as physical and health problems but has risen to the challenge and is an active member of the No Limits Sports Club.Andrew took up the disabled sport of boccia and has become a skilled player. His greatest acheivement was in the Special Olympics in Leicester in 2009 where he won gold and team bronze medals in his category.In 2009 Andrew also won the Scottish senior and English junior titles for people with learning difficulties.The exhibition will be on display at Annet House for the rest of the summer.

via Andrew’s addition to Annet House – Local Headlines – Linlithgow Journal and Gazette.

Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps has been tasked with raising national flags during victory ceremonies at Wembley Arena for the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics event.

She will lead a nine-strong team, picked from the Royal Air Force, which will also carry out flag duties for the ceremonies for the boccia and goalball events at the Paralympic Games.

Flt Lt Capps said: “I feel hugely honoured and privileged to have been selected to represent RAF Odiham and the Royal Air Force in leading a ceremony team during the Olympic Games.

via RAF Odiham officer raises national flags at Olympic Games (From This is Hampshire).

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) today announced two new additions to the ParalympicsGB team which will compete at London 2012.

The first is Crystal Lane, whose selection is the result of late bi-partitite slot allocated by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Lane made her international debut in 2011 at the Para-Cycling Road World Championships where she won a bronze medal.

The second is Matthew Ellis, who is a replacement for Josh Beacham in the Football 7-a-side team. Beacham has been ruled out through injury.

Ellis competed for ParalympicsGB in the 7-a-side team in Beijing.

Andy Kaar has also withdrawn from the Athletics team due to injury.

Craig Hunter, Chef de Mission for ParalympicsGB, said today: “It is very sad for those whose injuries have meant that they can no longer join the team in London, but I would like to congratulate Crystal and Matthew on their selection.

“In particular, I’m delighted that Crystal has joined the team. She has worked very hard and I am pleased that we are now in a position to welcome her to ParalympicsGB.”

Gareth Sheppard, British Cycling’s Paralympic Performance Manager, said of Lane’s selection: “It was very unexpected news. We had applied for the place in March, and initially been told that we hadn’t been awarded one. Crystal had only narrowly missed out on initial selection, so it is fantastic to be able to give her the opportunity to compete in London. It really strengthens our team.”

via Two new additions to ParalympicsGB – British Paralympic Association.