PLANS have emerged to restart a York wheelchair basketball club after the Paralympics later this year, writes Ed White.

North Yorkshire Sport has teamed up with York University Student’s Union, the council and the sport’s national governing body to re-introduce a wheelchair basketball club in the area.

The York Vikings club originally formed in 2010 after receiving funding British Wheelchair Basketball but stopped a year later after failing to take off.

The new club will be re-launched as part of the playground to podium initiative aimed at finding talented wheelchair basketball players across the country. It will be based at the university sports hall and university students will form the committee for the club.

Simon Pierce, North Yorkshire Sport disability development officer, said they are currently trying to establish a more permanent club after recent taster sessions over the last month had been well attended.

“We had between ten or 20 people turn up to each of the three taster sessions we held,” he said.

“There’s no wheelchair basketball club in the area so we are trying to get it up and running again,”

“Wheelchair basketball is one of the blue ribbon events at the Paralympic Games incorporating unrivalled skill, exhilaration and excitement. It is a fully inclusive sport so anyone can take part, disabled or non-disabled. It is an opportunity to take part in a sport where everyone is in a level playing field.”