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Brisbane primary school's bid to boost boccia and inclusion for students with a disability
ABC NEWS (Australia)
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12/6/2023
Students with a disability say there are limited opportunities for them to compete in sports. But one primary school in Queensland is hoping to change that with about 200 students - with and without disability - taking on a paralympic game.
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00:00
It's a game of strategy and precision.
00:08
The Paralympic sport boccia is also bringing out the competitive side these Brisbane Primary
00:14
School students.
00:15
I think our team often wins.
00:18
Getting to learn more new strategies.
00:20
Just I like the fact that everyone is able to play.
00:24
No matter if you're short, tall, you have a walking stick or you're in a wheelchair,
00:30
you can all play.
00:31
Schools across Queensland compete almost weekly in inter-school sport tournaments.
00:37
But options for students with a disability are limited.
00:40
We've got rugby, we've got basketball, we've got tennis or whatever other sport.
00:45
And then it's like if you're not doing that sport, you can sit in this classroom.
00:49
National boccia champion Sam Thorne is hoping to change that.
00:53
Mostly just going out there to give an introduction to the sport.
00:57
And that's been really enriching for the students and the staff alike.
01:02
It's been a massive hit at MacGregor State School.
01:05
It's now looking for others to join.
01:08
We're looking at a proposal to hopefully lift the profile of boccia and take it from an
01:12
intra-school sport up to an inter-school sport.
01:15
Education Queensland says it's up to the schools and their districts to provide inclusive offerings
01:20
for all students.
01:21
If successful, the school hopes it can inspire future Paralympians.
01:29
Most kids' dreams start when they're at school, so it's got to start somewhere.
01:32
I'm a boccia.
01:34
[BLANK_AUDIO]
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