OneAbility Games aims to build inclusion through sport in B.C.

RICHMOND, B.C. – More than 1,200 athletes are expected to participate at the inaugural OneAbility Games May 13-17 at the Richmond Olympic Oval in what organizers hope will reshape accessibility and inclusion in sport across British Columbia.

Inspired by Défi Sportif AlterGo, held annually in Montreal since 1984, OneAbility Games is a dynamic, multi-sport disability event that introduces elementary and high school students to adapted sport, while showcasing elite athletes competing at the provincial and national levels from the disability sport community.

The Games will feature several Paralympians as the national championships in both wheelchair basketball and goalball are being held, with more athletes attending to help and encourage the kids. Also featured is the B.C. Cup blind hockey tournament.

Nathan Clement, a medal-winning Para cyclist at the 2024 Paralympic Games, said he hopes the OneAbility Games will help raise awareness of a clear pathway into Para sports for children with disabilities.

“As a kid who grew up from the age of two with a disability, seeing this hope, this belief, is one of the most beautiful things,” Clement told the Richmond News.

“This is giving kids that chance to make friends that will last a lifetime, and it’s giving families that hope, that belief, that tomorrow and today is going to be a great day.”

Andrea Carey, the director of the OneAbility Games, said the event was inspired by Quebec’s Défi Sportif AlterGo which attracted more than 7,000 athletes ranging from school-aged children to high performance athletes, at its latest edition last month.

“I fell in love with it right away, and I was, like, how do we bring this to the West Coast?” Carey told the Richmond News. “Because every child should have an opportunity to get to play in this way.”

“We’re also about creating community connections, creating collaborations and using the power of sport as the catalyst for social inclusion and disability awareness.’’

The OneAbility Games is expected to host 900 students with disabilities with three days of introductory sport programming before adding the competitive events from Friday to Sunday.

The Opening Ceremony is on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. as 300 students with disabilities will parade into the Richmond Olympic Oval to launch the Games with he Opening Ceremony.

The celebration begins with the arrival of the Service de police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM) cyclists who have completed a cross-Canada ride in support of Defi Sportif AlterGo and the OneAbility Games. Their arrival will set the stage for the parade of student athletes who will enter the Oval to cheers, colour, and community.

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Carey, who was on the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Board of Directors for 10 years, says the goal of the Games is to develop physical literacy, foster social connections through sport and instill confidence in the youngsters.

‘’People with disabilities actually identify as having greater rates of mental health challenges,” said Carey during an interview with CBC’s BC Today (interview at the 30-minute mark). ‘’Sports builds social connectivity. It helps build skills for other areas they might want to go to in their life.’’

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An event like the OneAbility Games could also serve as a starting point for the next generation of Para athletes by allowing young participants to try different sports, meet mentors, and see examples of success both in and outside athletics.

‘’What we’re trying to do is be more of a recruitment tool for sport,’’ Carey said. ‘’We want to introduce kids to sport and then send them to sport partners.”

Carey said there is also interest from other provinces in adopting the model. She says disability rates are rising in Canada and there is a need to grow awareness around accessibility needs.

‘’We’re all humans and we have different human experiences, and we work together to figure out how to support each person.’’