The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games has a record variety of broadcasters. 160 countries and territories. Viewership figures are expected to top the Tokyo 2020 Games, which were shown in 154 countries and attracted 4.1 billion viewers, half the worldwide population.
The growing popularity of disability sports is a robust tool for empowerment. With 22 sports showcased Summer Paralympic ProgramThe ceremony is a crucial step towards motivation 1.3 billion people Around the world who are suffering from a big disability.
Along with popular athletics and water-based sports, there are several. Very busy Wheelchair sports, equivalent to rugby and basketball.
But the sad fact is that many 80 million wheelchairs Consumers worldwide won’t ever have the chance to play these games – mainly due to the fee of wheelchairs.
within the UK, Sports wheelchairs Starts at around £500, rising to hundreds of kilos. With such prohibitive costs, it is maybe not surprising that there are individuals with disabilities. Likely twice Non-joining of a sports or exercise club against individuals with disabilities – Reducing personal fitness And Social benefits Being a part of a sports team.
Innovation for inclusion
My research sought to beat this problem by developing a reasonable plastic wheelchair for primary school children. The design is lightweight, durable and inexpensive.
T. Whitehead
Innovations in wheelchair design can provide a cheap way into the game. For example, schools usually tend to find a way to have classroom seats within the closet, allowing for wider participation in wheelchair sports.
In addition to inexpensive entry-level seats, advances in additive manufacturing or 3D printing – a process during which a digital file is used to create a three-dimensional solid object – could also play a task in the longer term at the very best level of sports competition. will I even have seen it. Team GB Olympic Track Bikewhich has various 3D printed parts (crank, seatstay bridge and dropout). My research investigates ways during which this technology might be adopted and utilized in the design and manufacture of wheelchairs.
This means you may design a selected wheelchair for an athlete, making an allowance for the perfect fit, size, weight and regulation. Then, as a substitute of shipping the wheelchair world wide, it could actually be printed on site. Spare parts will also be printed if needed.
To show how this might work, my research team 3D printed a bespoke child's wheelchair from metal. The design optimized the usage of materials while maintaining strength and impact resistance.
T. Whitehead
T. Whitehead
Bespoke wheelchair design is usually a game-changer for consumers, not only at the very best levels of competition, but in addition for on a regular basis users who often Insufficient chairs To meet their needs. A secondary profit could be a discount in need. Worldwide shipping and the associated carbon footprint.
There is room for technological innovation to enhance the experience of wheelchair sports on the entry level and at the very best levels. But beyond chair design, there must be higher access to those games in schools as a part of the curriculum.
New guidance For schools published in March 2024 highlighted examples of colleges where staff be sure that pupils with special education needs and disabilities can participate in PE. For example, purchasing equipment for accessible activities equivalent to The bowl And Round ball Allowing pupils with disabilities, equivalent to muscular dystrophy and Down syndrome, to participate in class sports.
There are some excellent examples of colleges, colleges and other providers involved in wheelchair sports. But wouldn't or not it’s great if all children had equal access to sport, with all its advantages?
After watching a wheelchair rugby or basketball match in Paris this summer, children with disabilities should find a way to experience sports for themselves. Inexpensive sports wheelchairs may also help do that.