African National Paralympic Committees have until December 1 to apply for participation in the 2018 World Para Swimming Coaching and Athlete Training Camp ©NPC Kenya

African National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) have until December 1 to apply for participation in the World Para Swimming Coaching and Athlete Training Camp, which is scheduled to take place early next year in Nairobi.

The event, due to be held in Kenya’s capital from February 3 to 5, will serve as preparation for the 2018 Kenya National Open and Para Swimming Championships.

The training camp is supported by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee, in cooperation with the Kenyan Paralympic Committee.

It is one of 31 Para-sport development projects that will receive funding through the 2017 edition of its Grant Support Programme.

Taking place at the Kasarani Aquatic Stadium complex, the camp is aimed at talented young swimmers and their coaches from the East African region who seek to take part in international competition but lack the resources to attend.

Athletes and coaches will attend separate theory lessons in the morning and will have joint practical trainings in the pool in the afternoon.

Coaches will have lessons, which include presentations on classification, World Para Swimming rules and regulations, strength and conditioning, session planning, talent identification and technical aspects of all strokes and turns.

Athletes will also participate in workshops related to the Proud Paralympian programme, which is designed to support their development on the field of play and as individuals and active citizens.

African swimmers will be hoping to make their mark at future editions of the Paralympic Games ©Getty Images
African swimmers will be hoping to make their mark at future editions of the Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

Among the topics covered are the Paralympic Movement, human rights in the context of ability, ethics, and athlete health and well-being.

Throughout the three-day workshop, it is expected that participants will enhance their skills and knowledge.

The training camps, it is claimed, will ensure a lasting sustainable development impact for participant countries and their coaches and athletes.

Selected participants will be helped by the project with payment of travel costs, meals and accommodation.

To be eligible to participate, attendants must also compete in the 2018 Kenya National Open and Para Swimming Championships from February 8 to 11.

NPCs can send up to three coaches and five athletes.

Para-sport in Africa was boosted in August by two training events in Benin organised by the Agitos Foundation which addressed key issues around the challenges faced by the lack of inclusive physical education throughout the continent.

Encouraging gender balance in Para-sports leadership was among the topics covered at the events, with the NPCs of Mali and Benin mentioned as model examples for others in the region to follow.