New adapted wheelchair sports program launches in Calgary
Everyone can play
Chad Jassman says if you're bad at tennis, you're going to be even worse at wheelchair tennis — but he wants you to try it anyway.
WinSport launched a new program Saturday to help introduce Calgarians with and without physical disabilities to adapted wheelchair sports.
"Anybody, whether you have a disability or not, come out and just jump on a chair and try out a bunch of sports," said Jassman, who plays on Team Canada's wheelchair basketball team and is a member of the Canadian Paralympics Committee.
He said almost everyone knows a person who uses a wheelchair, and he said it can help open people's eyes about accessibility in the city — and wheelchair sports are a lot of fun too.
People of all ages participated in tennis on Saturday, but a different sport will be played each of the nine weeks the program runs.
David Legg, who chairs the department of health and physical education at Mount Royal University and is past president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee said the new WinSport program gives people an idea of the wheelchair sport opportunities that exist.
"With children who are able-bodied, their parents will know about minor league soccer or little league baseball. Sometimes that awareness of opportunities doesn't exist for people with disabilities," he said.
"Children with disabilities don't always have siblings that also have disabilities. Often their brothers and sisters or their friends are able-bodied and so this gives them now an opportunity to participate together, socialize, and really just enjoy all the benefits that sport can provide."
Saheed Alawiye said he wants people in the community to come out and play. Alawiye, 14, plays centre-forward in wheelchair basketball, and wants to play for Team Canada one day.
His mother, Omolola Alawiye, said having sports accessible means a lot to her family, especially because all her children can play together.
"That's why I like wheelchair sports, they don't segregate and they include everyone. They use the wheelchair as equipment."
The program is free, runs nine-weeks, and takes place at WinSport's Markin MacPhail Performance Training Centre.