Para-Taekwondo competition kicks off Nottingham 2015 CPISRA World Games
Competition at the Nottingham 2015 CPISRA World Games got underway on Saturday 8 August in explosive fashion, with a demonstration of Para-Taekwondo. It featured five athletes from Australia and Great Britain in both the men's and women's competitions.
On Saturday morning an emotional Francesca Pivaro (pictured above right) won the first gold medal of the CPISRA World Games 2015 in Nottingham. Competing in the first ever P30 classification Para-Taekwondo World Championships, she was judged to come out on top by a panel of five international judges.
The competition format saw each athlete perform two semi-final rounds and then two further rounds in the final. Each scored by accuracy and presentation, these two scores were then added together and the average used to determine the final medal placings.
The women's competition was contested by GB athletes Samantha Carrington and Francesca Pivaro. The scoring was close throughout, but higher accuracy edged Francesca into the lead and she took the P34 gold medal. Samantha who picked up silver in the P34, also won gold in the P33 class.
In the men's competition Ben Savage and Kent Smith from Great Britain, and Austrailian Nick Riches enjoyed a tight contest right until the end. In the P34 class Ben took the gold medal ahead of Kent in 2nd position and Nick in 3rd position. Then in the P33 class Kent Smith took the gold medal and Nick Riches from Austraila claimed silver. The picture below shows Kent, Ben and Nick receiving their medals (L-R).
At this year's Games each sport will also have an additional 'Spirit of the Games Award' to present to the athlete who embodies the spirit and values of the Games and their sport. For Para-Taekwondo the Spirit of the Games Award, sponsored by Nottingham Trent University was presented to Nick Riches from Australia.
On Sunday 9 August, the official opening ceremony for the 2015 CPISRA World Games took place in Nottingham. Directed by acclaimed actor and director Jamie Beddard, who has cerebral palsy, the theme of the opening ceremony was 'Apsirations' - focusing on the hopes of the athletes and their expectations of the Games.
Nottingham arts organisations, City Arts and Dance4 were commissioned by the event organising committee, Cerebral Palsy Sport to produce the ceremony. The evening comprised of music, dance and performances from a team of world-class artists, alongside speeches from Nottingham 2015 Event Director Alison Talbot and Nottingham City Council's profolio holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr David Trimble.
Event Director, Alison Talbot said:
'For the athletes taking part, the CPISRA World Games will likely be their first opportunity to compete at a national level – it will be quite an experience for these young athletes. We feel the theme [of the opening ceremony] really captures the essence of this and we can’t wait to see how the hopes and experiences of all those involved are brought to life.'
This week the Nottingham 2015 CPISRA World Games is set to attract around 400 athletes and coaches from 13 nations who will compete across six sports - athletics (racerunner and slalom), bowls, football, swimming taekwondo, and table cricket. Tickets are available for spectators for both the sporting events and closing ceremony on Saturday 15 August.
Tickets prices
Opening ceremony on Sunday 9 August and closing ceremony of Saturday 15 August:
- £12 for adults
- £6 for children (aged 16 and under)
- Reduced rate for disabled people £6 (includes free carer place)
Sporting events:
- £8 for adults
- £6 for children (aged 16 and under)
- Reduced rate for disabled people £6 (includes free carer place)
Photo credit: Epic Action Imagery
