Disability sport fan's China trip

By Denise Glass
Tayside reporter, BBC Scotland news website

Niall Jarvie coaches football and boccia in Perthshire

A young man from Perthshire is determined not to let his cerebral palsy get in the way of his love of sport.

Not only is 22-year-old Niall Jarvie a games instructor, he is one of only six Scots chosen to go to Beijing to experience the Paralympics.

Niall, from Abercairney, near Crieff, will not be competing in the games but instead will be a representative on the British Council's Young Advocates Programme (YAP).

He will take part in training and workshops to enable him to promote disability sports and the Paralympic spirit in his home community.

The group will also watch the Paralympic Games opening ceremony in the Bird's Nest Stadium, attend a VIP reception hosted by the British Ambassador and visit the Great Wall of China.

They will finish by organising their own Mini Paralympics Festival.

Niall coaches football and boccia at sports centres in Perthshire.

Boccia is a game which was traditionally played by those with cerebral palsy but is now enjoyed by many different groups.

The one thing I love is getting people into sport and seeing them improve and develop Niall Jarvie

Niall describes it as like French boules but with soft balls. The aim is to get your team's red or blue balls nearest to the jack.

He does not let his condition get in the way of his competitive spirit.

He said: "I can do most things but I just have to adapt them to the way I play.

"Such as badminton - I would just serve one-handed.

"So I throw the shuttle up and play it one-handed then I'd play normally from there.

"You just adapt the sport to what you can do."

Niall has been able to adapt so well that he recently came second in the Four Nations Disabled Badminton Championships.

But for now he is just itching to get to China.

"I'm privileged and excited that I was asked," he said.

"I'm bouncing off the walls to go, I just can't wait.

"The one thing I love is getting people into sport and seeing them improve and develop."