Double Paralympics medalist Oliver Lam-Watson visits the school for the Active London Conference – South London News
Tokyo 2020 double Paralympics medalist Oliver Lam-Watson visited the Highshore School on Tuesday to mark the start of the London Sport Active London Conference.
The Dulwich wheelchair fencer, who won silver and bronze medals at this year’s Paralympic Games, met with students at the school and held a fencing session.
The effects of Covid-19 have been significant on levels of capital and physical activity, especially for those with disabilities who have found the pandemic to create new barriers to participation.
Highshore School, a special school in Southwark, recently received funding from London Sport to help them open their facilities outside of school hours so that their students and the wider community can do more physical activity and exercise to drive.
During the visit, Lam-Watson said, “I think we have found the next generation of wheelchair fencers here. this [school visit] is just as important to me as the Paralympics. “
After only starting wheelchair fencing three and a half years ago, the 28-year-old shared his inspiring story about having a big dream and making it come true, despite others telling him it wasn’t possible. He said: “When I never did disabled sports as a child, I always felt different. It is so important that young, disabled people are given the opportunity to be active. How many world champions could we still have if we were to offer parasports at a young age? “
Active London is the nation’s capital’s largest annual conference devoted to the future of physical activity and sport, on September 21-22.
The two-day digital event explores a range of topics building on the remarkable work that has been done across London and the ways the industry can embrace change, reconnect and build for the better. The conference will examine how changes,
Innovation and new opportunities can help the sport and exercise sectors bring more Londoners to active lives.
London Sport Chair Jillian Moore said: “On Wednesday we will try to remove obstacles young women face in getting involved in physical activity or sport; only 38.5% of girls in the capital take the recommended amount.
“There is a particular challenge here, so Wednesday’s session will learn from Badu Sports how women in London can use sport as an entry point for personal and professional development.”
On the second day of Active London, delegates will also be able to hear how four locally rooted approaches to promoting walking and cycling are being used for representative groups of people for London.
More information about London Sport can be found at www.londonsport.org
