Five-time gold medallist Ellie Simmonds joined fellow Paralympic legends at Hemel Hempstead’s Snow Centre to celebrate the start of the Winter Paralympics and National Lottery players' key role in funding British athletes in Beijing.
ParalympicsGB are taking their most competitive team to a Winter Games, with more athletes looking to achieve personal best performances in more sports than ever before.
Paralympian Jon-Allan Butterworth and British Paralympic Association vice chairman David Clarke, who was captain of Britain’s Football 5-a-side team and competed at London 2012, were also on hand to join in the celebration.
Thanks to National Lottery players, ParalympicsGB athletes can train full time and produce performances in Beijing to make the nation proud.
Swimming star Simmonds is excited for the start of the Beijing Paralympic Games and is enthused about the chance to see the British paralympic athletes compete at the biggest para sport event on the planet - as well as giving Snowsport a try herself.
She said: “I’m really excited. To be here with winter athletes and trying out skiing and snowboarding is crazy, it’s great to see people giving it a go.
“Beijing has a special place in my heart – it was my first Paralympics back in 2008 and now it’s got a Winter Paralympics.
“It’s the biggest British team to be taken to a Winter Paralympics since 1994, so it’s going to be amazing to watch.
“Sport is such a showcase, especially Paralympics sport – it’s so powerful. To see Paralympic athletes compete out there with all different backgrounds – it’s just incredible and I’m so proud to be a Paralympian.
“We’re all part of that ParalympicsGB family – no matter if you compete in summer or winter sports. I’ve never done skiing or snowboarding so I’m looking forward to stepping into their shoes today and giving it a go!
“The National Lottery is really important - it helps us and enables us to fully focus and be elite athletes. And that shows that Paralympic athletes are getting out on the podium and doing well, representing our country and sport, but we couldn’t do it without the support of National Lottery players.
“It helped me go to Beijing, London and Rio, and it’s a massive support and was so important to my career. ”
National Lottery players’ support to ParalympicsGB and Team GB Winter athletes and facilities across the UK is vital, and without it, the likes of Jon-Allan Butterworth would not have enjoyed such an incredible career.
Having won four Paralympic medals in track cycling, Butterworth made the switch to snowboarding, and will be delighted to watch his teammates compete out in Beijing, particularly at a very difficult time for the world.
He said: “With everything happening in the world right now, what the Games stands for is such a positive.
“To be part of the Paralympic movement and what it stands for and its values is amazing – it unites people from all backgrounds, cultures, and inspires and creates passion amongst equals. That’s what is special about sport.
“There are few opportunities to get disabled people into sport and so the coverage of the Paralympic Games is amazing. The number of sports around that you don’t know realise exist is incredible and it just shows that there is something for everyone. It’s hard not to be inspired by the Paralympics – it’s just cool!
“My involvement with transitioning from a summer sport to a winter sport – there are differences – but it’s still high-level sport and it’s still incredible with the speed and adrenaline rush I get.
“Everyone should get behind the winter Paralympians – we’re underdogs when it comes to winter sports as we’re not a winter nation, so when we do well, it’s more kudos. I think it will be one of our best Games yet.
“Without The National Lottery, I wouldn’t be snowboarding now and wouldn’t have been able to do cycling previously. The number of medals we have won wouldn’t have happened and we wouldn’t be the great sporting nation we are without them.”
The Winter Paralympic Games will celebrate remarkable sporting achievement as well as challenge perceptions and break down barriers for all disabled people – something two-time Paralympic footballer and British Paralympic Association’s Vice Chair Clarke is proud to promote.
He said: “We’re really excited to see the sport get underway, starting today with the Opening Ceremony.
“I think the Paralympics and Paralympic movement has had such a positive influence in so many ways, as seen in London 2012. It’s just going from strength to strength, inspiring a better world for disabled people.
“For the public to see the Paralympics and get into the sport is so exciting. I hope it inspires so many people and that builds into the wider environment with buildings and infrastructure as well as creating a space where people are treated equally.
“As a visually impaired person myself, I always think the visually impaired downhill skiing is amazing. From a BPA perspective, it has also brought us medals in the past so I’m very much looking forward to that.
“I’m very proud of the length and breadth of our team and it’s the strongest team we’ve ever had.
“The National Lottery have been incredible in how Paralympic sport has moved forward. The funding provided by all National Lottery players has had a massive impact on how our athletes are able to train and we will see the manifestation of that at the Games.”
National Lottery players are one of the biggest supporters of ParalympicsGB winter athletes and raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, including grassroots and elite sport. If you want to learn more about how you can take part in inclusive sporting opportunities, visit www.parasport.org.uk
