Inspired by the heroes of Rio and to coincide with the start of our superhero athletes competing in the Paralympics, Bradford Council has organised a Paralympic event in City Park on Saturday 10 September between 10am and 2pm.


The event will give people the opportunity to try out a variety of Paralympic sports, such as wheelchair basketball, adapted cycling, wheelchair rugby and Boccia, a form of seated bowls.

There will be two activity areas, with Centenary Square being used for wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and adapted cycling and the area beneath the Big Screen being used for people to try out the sport of Boccia.

It’s an inclusive event at which everyone will be able to have a go at the sports on offer and find out about what other inclusive sports are available in their area.

Each of the activities will be led by fully qualified coaches. Members of the wheelchair basketball team The Bradford Jets and the wheelchair rugby team from the Keighley Cougars will be there. The cycling will be led by members of the Bradford Disability Cycling Club.

Boccia will run throughout the event and the wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and the adapted cycling will alternate throughout the day, with the sessions lasting around half an hour.

Coun Sarah Ferriby, Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Culture, said: “The event we had for the Olympics went down really well, so we thought why not help people support the Paralympics in the same way.

“I hope everyone who comes down on Saturday has a great time trying out the activities and is inspired to follow the Paralympics on TV, get behind our amazing athletes and be motivated to take part in sport themselves.”

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will also be shown live on the Big Screen in the centre of Bradford from 8 to 18 September. There will be highlights from 9.15am to 11.15am, live action and highlights from 1pm to 6pm and live action from 7.30pm to 10pm (end times may vary depending on the event).

David Wilson, Director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film said: “We’re delighted to be screening the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games which we know are going to be so exciting and full of brilliant sporting moments just like the Olympic Games.

“We’ll have ten days of highlights and superb sporting live action so I’d urge everyone to get down to City Park and support our inspirational sporting men and women who are competing in Rio.”

The event is being organised by Bradford Council’s Community Sports and Activities Development Unit in partnership with Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure.

There will be disabled parking available for the event at Jacobs Well and behind Margaret McMillan Tower.

For more information visit www.bdsl.net or telephone 01274437093