The history of Cerebral Palsy Sport

History

Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP Sport) supports and enables sport and physical activity for people with cerebral palsy. CP Sport began as part of the National Spastics Society, now known as Scope, in the 1960s. The society oversaw many sports and physical recreation opportunities for people with cerebral palsy, including the first national competition for cerebral palsy sport held at Stoke Mandeville in August 1969. These games were incredibly popular, and the sports wing of the society subsequently grew.

Sport for athletes with cerebral palsy developed internationally, resulting in the foundation of the Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) in 1978. Now incorporated into World Abilitysport, CP-ISRA worked closely with CP Sport as both organisations were based in Nottingham. In 1980 cerebral palsy athletes were included in the Paralympics for the first time. As a result, competitive and recreational cerebral palsy sport became more accessible and popular. In 2000, the growth of sport within Scope led to CP Sport members voting to become an independent organisation.

Timeline of CP Sport

CP Sport logo

Hosting the 2015 Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association World Games

A major milestone for CP Sport was the hosting of the CP-ISRA World Games in Nottingham in August 2015. Following a 10-year break, the event hosted 400 athletes from 13 countries. The themes for the Games opening and closing ceremonies were 'Aspirations' and 'Transformations', focusing on athletes’ expectations and training for the competition.

The event was held in Harvey Hadden Stadium, Nottingham, which had historically hosted CP Sport events. The Games were the venues inaugural event before re-opening to the public following refurbishment. The event signified the strong historic link between CP Sport and the City of Nottingham. This can even be seen in the Games logo, mascot, and medals, featuring designs that invoke Robin Hood.

Pioneers

CP Sport's achievements have been made possible with the support of dedicated athletes, parents, volunteers, coaches, clubs, and local authorities.

Arthur Edwards

Parent to a child with cerebral palsy, and the National Spastic Society's Physical Education advisor for over 11 years. He oversaw the first CP Sport events in the late 1960s.

Colin Rains MBE

Founding member of CP Sport and a pioneer of national and disability sports. He had a long involvement with CP-ISRA, eventually serving as president of the organisation from the 1990s to the early 2000s.

Howard Bailey and Stephen Williams

Williams recruited key volunteers and led British teams in international Games in the 1980s. Bailey succeeded Williams and notably spearheaded the development of boccia.

Jill Stidever MBE

Volunteered for CP Sport for many years and coached swimming for over 60 years. She supported numerous Paralympians, including her daughter Jane, who competed in five Paralympic Games from 1988 and 2004.

Shirley Hughes OBE

The first manager of CP Sport when the organisation became independent in 2001. She worked for CP Sport up to her retirement in 2013.

Ann Bell

Administrator for CP Sport from 2004 to 2020. She was awarded the CP Sport lifetime achievement award in 2020, dedicated to her service and impact on the charity.

Cerebral Palsy sports

Sports have been developed and adapted for people with cerebral palsy, these include foot-propelled wheelchair racing, club throwing, and the creation of entirely new sports like boccia.  Some of the successful athletes and sports supported by CP Sport are below.

Boccia

Boccia was developed for those with greater mobility restrictions and introduced to Britain in the late 1970s. CP Sport and individuals like Howard Bailey promoted and oversaw boccia, organising competitions and training opportunities. It was first included in the New York 1984 Paralympic Games. Boccia quickly grew in popularity and is now played by a range of disabled people. 

Britain's most decorated boccia player is David Smith OBE. He began playing boccia at age 11 at Treloar School and College in Alton, Hampshire. In his early athletic career Smith attended many boccia competitions organised by CP Sport including every national championship event between 2001 and 2011, after which Boccia England was established as an independent body. He has competed in numerous national and international competitions, including representing Britain at the Summer Paralympics Games between 2008 and 2024. Image of David Smith OBE after the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Image © Darrel Smith.

Athletics

Athletics were part of the first national competition in 1969, many athletes with cerebral palsy have found success in track or field events. 

Esther Cruice (now Jones) PLY competed at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games in track racing events. She won a gold medal and two silver medals in the 1992 Barcelona Games. Jones joined CP Sport as a child, encouraged by her mother Christine. Christine was a physiotherapist and a CP-ISRA and CP Sport classifier, and knew the importance of sport for building communities for disabled people. In 2001, she was recognised by the International Olympic Committee for her contribution as a volunteer to sport and also served as the first chairwoman of CP Sport. Since retiring from sport, Esther Jones has worked as a coach, sport development officer, and a trustee of CP Sport. Image of Esther at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Image © Getty Images.

Graeme Ballard, a sprinter from Manchester took up athletics at a CP Sport event at the age of 19. He subsequently found great success in T36 sprint events, winning many medals across different national and international competitions. During the London 2012 Paralympic Games, he broke the world record in the 100m and won a silver medal. Ballard retired in 2018, after 14 years of competitive sport. He was inducted into the CP Sport Hall of Fame in the same year. Image of Graeme at the 2013 Diamond League Athletics, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. Image © Alamy Images.

Football

Football is an important recreational and competitive sport for people with cerebral palsy. 7-a-side football is a modified version of association football, played by athletes with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions. Adaptations include changes to the field of play, number of players, and no offside rule.  The first international CP football competition was held in 1978 and was part of the Summer Paralympics between 1984 and 2016.  

Martin Sinclair PLY found opportunities for disability sport through the professional football club Plymouth Argyle and later played CP football. He represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the 7-a-side football event. He also played for England’s national CP football team for 10 years, playing in over 50 international matches. He has coached and co-founded the Disability Football Collective, which works to support representation and personal development pathways for disabled people within football. Image of Martin at the 2010 BT Paralympic World Cup, Sport City, Manchester. Image © Alamy Images.

Frame running

Frame running (or RaceRunning), was first developed in the 1990s by Danish Paralympian and occupational therapist Connie Hansen and fellow athlete Mansoor Siddiqi. It was developed as an alternative to foot propelled wheelchair racing. The running frame is a three-wheel frame with a saddle and body plate. The athlete runs, holding onto a handle of the frame, and steers using the mobility within their hands and/or arms.  

Frame running is a new, developing sport, fostered by CP Sport and their national and international partners. CP Sport runs taster sessions and competitive events to create more opportunities to try this sport across the country. 

Ellie Simpson is a frame runner introduced to the sport at a CP Sport athletics event. Simpson and fellow athlete Matthew Humphreys were the first frame running athletes to represent England at the 2015 CP-ISRA World Games, where she won gold in the 100 and 200 metres. She repeated this success at the 2018 World Games and picked up an additional silver in the 400 metres. Sport opened up new opportunities for Simpson, and inspired her to attend university, create the charity CP Teens, and become an ambassador for CP Sport.

Ellie reflected: "CP Sport enables people with cerebral palsy to reach their sporting potential – I certainly found mine and I am very proud to help other people like me discover their potential."

Image of Ellie and Matthew on the track at the 2015 CP-ISRA World Games. Image © Ellie Simpson.

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