RNIB - See Sport Differently

With days getting longer and warmer, many of us are looking for different ways to boost our mood. Now, one great way of doing that is by getting out and enjoying the fresh air. And what better way to do that than with a little bit of cycling? 
Well, if you are visually impaired and live in Scotland, you could try out tandem cycling thanks to the fantastic In Tandem project.
To find out a bit more our Paulina Kuchorew has been chatting with Andrew Campbell from Cycling UK and Chair of the Ayrshire Tandem Club Natalie Jamieson.
Find out more by searching for Ayrshire Tandem Club on Facebook.

Image shows 2 people on a tandem bike, the stoker in the back is smiling and showing a piece sign as they look back. 

IBSA is the International Blind Sports Federation and their World Games will take place in Birmingham in 2023.

Visually impaired athletes from 70 countries will compete for medals and places in the Paralympics, in sports like Football, Goalball and Judo.

RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Alaina MacGregor, from British Blind Sport, to learn more about the games and the launch which takes place on April 27th 2022.

To watch the launch event live visit: International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) - YouTube

If you'd like more information about the games, go to https://ibsasport.org/

For details about British Blind Sport, go to www.britishblindsport.org.uk

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Metro Blind Sport, based in London, is a charity which aims to get more blind and partially sighted people actively enjoying a wide range of sports and leisure activities.RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Martin Symcox to learn more about their athletics event, taking place in London on June 11th, which will have sports for people of all fitness levels.If you'd like more info on the event, go to www.metroblindsport.org

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RNIB Connect Radio's David Hogg chats to Olympic medal winning boxer and current AEW wrestler Anthony Ogogo about sight loss, how he picked himself up following his retirement from boxing and his time in All Elite Wrestling.

Photo is of Anthony Ogogo smiling as he walks to the ring at AEW's 2021 Double Or Nothing event.

Since the pandemic began the National Lottery has given millions of pounds to community football sides across the country. The Barry Town United Pan Disability side is one team who've benefited from this support. Hywel went to meet the side's visually impaired coach Chloe Mc Bratney and former England captain Karen Carney.


Image shows former England Captain Karen Carney watching as coach Chloe McBratney crouches to give a high five to her guide dog Emily.

Every year lots of incredible people take part in all kinds of challenges to raise money for RNIB, including the Double Dash, which this year is being held on the 7th of May in London's Regents Park and virtually around the rest of the UK. Ellie is joined by Bindy Dryer, the events manager for the Double Dash and Tom Norton who will be taking part in this years event, to discuss what it is and just how important fundraising is to the charity.

To find out more and sign up, please visit the website here: Double Dash 5k fun run - RNIB - See differently

(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath) 

Barry Snell chats to Roger Cole ahead of the blind golf season, which gets underway on the 9th April with the Primary Club Match Play.

Roger, who will be competing in the tournament, is looking for more blind and partially sighted people to give it a go & he discusses the many benefits of being involved in blind golf.

If you would like to find out more about the game of blind golf, click below
https://ewblindgolf.co.uk

Winter Paralympics GB youngest athlete, 19 year-old visually impaired skier Neil Simpson along with his 21 year-old Brother Andrew not only won the first Paralympics GB Gold of the Beijing games in the Super G but they have just won a Bronze in the Super Combined.
Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with the Banchory boys, Neil and Andrew Simpson to find out what winning a Bronze and Gold medal in their first Winter Paralympic Games means to them both and whether they had gone into their first games expecting to win medals

Neil began by saying how proud he is of how well they have done so far in their first Winter Paralympic Games and how both the Gold in the Super G and the Bronze in the Super Combined have been a real bonus for them in their first games.
Neil then explained to Toby how in the Super Combined they made a bit of a mistake in the Super G but had a great run in the Slalom which put them back on the podium.
Andrew told Toby that as they have been skiing together for years they don’t need to say that much to each other over the headset during the runs as they know each other so well which may be of an advantage for them on other skiers. Andrew will feed back to Neil about the state of the snow, whether there are any ruts to look out for to ensure that Neil has a smooth and fast line down the course.
They did not expect to come out with medals going in to their first Winter Paralympic Games and they are going to have a bit of a rest before a day training for the Giant Slalom later in the games.
Congratulations again to Neil and Andrew on their Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics Gold Super G medal and their Bronze in the Super Combined from everyone here at the RNIB.
To find out more about the Winter Paralympic Sports do visit the Paralympics GB website - https://paralympics.org.uk/sports  do visit 
For details of how to get into Snow Sports as a blind or partially sighted person do visit the Snow Sports page of the British Blind Sports website - 

https://britishblindsport.org.uk/membership/bbs-sports/snow-sports/


(Image shows 'Flying High', the Beijing 2022 Paralympics logo. A multicoloured adaptation of the Chinese symbol for 'Fly'. The Words Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games are written in the centre of the image and the Paralympic symbol is underneath which consists of three agitos, coloured red, blue, and green)

A silver medal in the Super G at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games for Paralympics GB visually impaired Skier Menna Fitzpatrick and her Guide Skier Gary Smith not only takes Menna’s Winter Paralympic Games medal tally to 5 but also crowns Menna as the most decorated Winter Paralympics GB Athlete in history so far!

Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Menna and Gary from Beijing to find out what that Super G medal run was like for them and how proud does Menna feel now that she has been crown most decorated Winter Paralympics GB Athlete in history.

Menna and Gary took Toby through the Super G Silver Medal run with some tricky bits for Menna with patches of light and dark due to the sunshine in Beijing. How they communicate to each other through the headsets that they wear and how Menna also follows Gary in his bright yellow jacket too during their competition runs. With no training run for the Super G, Gary talks about how important the inspection of the course is and how he and Menna talk through their strategy for the run.

Menna talked about how close the competition is out there in Beijing, how well the Paralympics GB team have done so far during the games and especially the women skiers with Millie Knight and her guide Bret Wild just missing out on another medal coming in 4th in the women’s Super G,

With Menna ending by saying what it really feels like to be the most decorated Winter Paralympics GB Athlete in history and how there will be no celebrating until the end of the games and an early night for them as the Super Combined has been brought forward one day to Monday 7 March 2022.
Congratulations again to Menna and Gary on their Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics Super G silver medal and of course congratulations to Menna on becoming the most decorated Winter Paralympics GB Athlete in history so far from everyone here at the RNIB.
To find out more about the Winter Paralympic Sports do visit the Paralympics GB website - https://paralympics.org.uk/sports  do visit 
For details of how to get into Snow Sports as a blind or partially sighted person do visit the Snow Sports page of the British Blind Sports website - 

https://britishblindsport.org.uk/membership/bbs-sports/snow-sports/


(Image shows 'Flying High', the Beijing 2022 Paralympics logo. A multicoloured adaptation of the Chinese symbol for 'Fly'. The Words Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games are written in the centre of the image and the Paralympic symbol is underneath which consists of three agitos, coloured red, blue, and green)

Scottish Disability Golf and Curling is dedicated to bringing 2 great sports to everyone, no matter what their disability.There's opportunities for experienced players and complete novices to get involved with free professional training, leagues, competitions and a great opportunity to make new friends.RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Jim Gales, from SDGC, to learn more about the game, as a blind player, and how people can get involved.For more information, go to https://www.scottishdgc.org.uk/

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