A local charity boss is on his way to Vancouver to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympic Games.
Dr Bob Price, chief executive of The Linkage Community Trust, is also the current president of the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID), and it in that capacity that he is making the trip to Vancouver.
During his visit he will meet with representatives of the International Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics International and the organisers of the next Winter Paralympics, due to take place in Sochi, Russia in 2014. He will also be involved in various medal ceremonies.
He said: "My Paralympic involvement is very important to me and my current role within INAS-FID fits very well alongside my duties at Linkage. To see one of our service-users participate in Paralympic Games, perhaps in London 2012, would be a great thrill."
Apart from his responsibilities with the Lincolnshire-based charity, where he has been chief executive since 1996, Dr Price has been associated with the Paralympic movement for almost 40 years. He has led the GB Team to five Summer Paralympic Games and has been president of both British and European Paralympic Committees.
Dr Price was a prime mover behind the International Paralympic Committee's decision, last November, to re-include athletes with intellectual disability in future Paralympic Games, beginning with London 2012.
He said at the time: "Naturally, I am delighted - even though they themselves did nothing wrong, for nine years since Sydney 2000, athletes with intellectual disability have been excluded from the Paralympic Games and other IPC sanctioned competitions."
Linkage Community Trust is a registered charity that provides specialist further education, residential and domiciliary care and employment services, to enable people with learning difficulties and other disabilities to realise their full potential. It has facilities in Scremby near Spilsby, Toynton All Saints, Grimsby, Lincoln and Mablethorpe. For more information go to www.linkage.org.uk
Community Newswire
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