§ Lord Pendryasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they recognise the right of athletes with a learning disability to participate in the Paralympic Games. [HL4700]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Government are committed to ensuring that everyone is given the chance to participate in sport and physical activity, and we fully support all efforts to involve people with disabilities.
The Government are also aware of the complex issue of classification, within disability sport, and recognises the problems associated with the current national and international classification system.
§ Lord Pendryasked Her Majesty's Government:
What they are doing to encourage the International Paralympic Committee to reinstate athletes with a learning disability into the Paralympic movement. [HL4701]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe International Paralympic Committee has charged the international community of learning disability sporting organisations to come up with a system of classification that will satisfy the IPC.
This Government are hopeful that a system of classification will be found that will see athletes with learning disabilities return to compete in the international sporting arena.
§ Lord Pendryasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions have taken place between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the president of the International Paralympic Committee in relation to the exclusion of athletes with a learning disability from the Paralympic Games. [HL4702]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe exclusion of athletes with a learning disability from the Paralympic Games is entirely a matter for the International Paralympic Committee and the international community of learning disability sporting organisations.
72WAThis Government are hopeful that a solution can be found that would secure a future for learning disability sport within the paralympics.
§ Lord Pendryasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the event of the International Paralympic Committee voting to ban athletes with a learning disability from the Paralympic movement in November, what plans have been made to assist financially the UK Sport Association for People with a Learning Disability and the English Sport Association for People with a Learning Disability. [HL4703]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyDecisions about funding for learning disability sport will be made by Sport England and the English Federation for Disability Sport but not in advance of any possible decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) later this month.