Comm Games opportunity for disabled bowlers
Bowls Australia’s national coach, Steve Glasson OAM, has today called on bowlers with a physical disability who are interested in reaching the highest lofts the sport has to offer to come forward.
Glasson is calling on bowlers with a disability from around the country who are drawn to the proposition of representing Australian in the green and gold uniform at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games to submit an expression of interest to Bowls Australia.
“Ultimately, we are leading up to the Commonwealth Games now in 2014 and we’ve got ten medal chances so it’s an exciting time,” Glasson said on the weekly lawn bowls program Without Bias.
“Basically, we searching for those wonderful athletes with the talents and attributes to represent Australia at the Games next year.
“Most of the players these days are members of the AAWD, but there are also those out there that aren’t part of this association that may well have the attributes to represent the nation, and they are the ones we are ultimately looking for; people that we haven’t identified at this stage.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity, this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of these players to represent in a full medal capacity for their country.
“We’ve got some great talent already part of the program, but we’re trying to see if there is anyone else out there that might not be aware of the program, or isn’t sure about how to go about it, or isn’t aware of the opportunities that are available for these athletes with disabilities.”
Bowls Australia, under the direction of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association and in conjunction with the Australian Athletes With a Disability, are dedicated to ensuring Australia has the best athletes identified and prepared for the sport’s pinnacle event in Glasgow next year.
Two gold medals are up for grabs in the disability sections of next year’s Games, with a mixed vision-impaired pairs and mixed athletes with a disability triples included alongside the traditional able-bodied disciplines, with the medals won in the disability sections contributing to a country’s overall medal tally.
Bowls Australia are searching for athletes who meet one of the following three criteria, although it is not imperative that you have already attained classification, as required by the AAWD and ACGA, as Bowls Australia can arrange this for successful candidates.
Australian Athletes With a Disability categories
B6: Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with reduced balance function but able to bowl a full length end.
B7: Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with minor balance problems.
B8: Ambulant bowlers, who have a permanent and irreversible disability, but have no noticeable impairment of function.
In order to express an interest to participate at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games under in the bowlers with a disability disciplines, Bowls Australia require you to complete the below form and return to Bowls Australia’s High Performance Coordinator Peter Brown – C/O Bowls Australia. P.O Box 52 Northcote, Vic. 3070 or emailed to pbrown@bowlsaustralia.com.au, prior to the close of business Friday, May 31.
Click here to download the required form.
Click here to listen to Steve Glasson on the Without Bias radio program promoting the call to action.
