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Memorandum of Understanding

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Published on Monday, 12 December 2011 13:34

Written by Michael 'Larry' Forrow

British Judo Association and Special Olympics GB:

Working together to promote inclusion

Thursday, 8 December 2011 – London – The British Judo Association (BJA) has become the first National Governing Body to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Special Olympics Great Britain – the country’s largest everyday sports training and competition programme for children and adults with learning disabilities. The Understanding sets out a common framework for the two national organisations to develop and promote the sport of Judo for people with a learning disability.

British Judo Association Chief Executive Scott McCarthy and Special Olympics GB CEO Karen Wallin sign a Memorandum of Understanding to develop and promote Judo for people with learning disabilities.

L-R: Athlete James Everest, Special Olympics GB Technical Advisor, Judo and BJA Coach Paul Everest, Special Olympics GB CEO Karen Wallin, BJA CEO Scott McCarthy, BJA Development Director Mark Beecher, Athlete Holly Tadman

According to BJA Chief Executive Scott McCarthy, “The word "dō" in jūdō means the way or path; this partnership with Special Olympics GB will lead to an enlightened pathway to well-being for learning disabled athletes, our coaches, and volunteers. Judo started 130 years ago next year – it seems only fitting to kick-off this agreement with Special Olympics GB during the 2012 Olympic Year.”

 Karen Wallin, Special Olympics GB Chief Executive added, “This is a real milestone for Special Olympics; it is the first time we have ever signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a National Governing Body of Sport. Judo is a great one-on-one sport for our athletes and with the BJA’s support we hope to expand our Judo programme dramatically.”

 Special Olympics GB Judo was started 17 years ago by current Special Olympics GB Technical Advisor and BJA coach Paul Everest of Hastings. He started disability Judo to engage his learning disabled and isolated foster brother James (see Case Study below).

 Highlights of the Memorandum of Understanding:

• All Special Olympics GB training and competition will take place under the auspices of the BJA and its club network

• Special Olympics GB will provide support and guidance to the BJA in promoting judo for people with a learning disability

• Special Olympics GB will help to establish the sport of judo within the international Special Olympics movement in 180 countries with 3.5 million learning disabled athletes worldwide.

• The BJA agrees to continue to actively seek to increase the number of people with a learning disability participating in the sport of judo and provide opportunities for judo players of all abilities in coaching and competition programmes

• Each BJA club and its affiliate wishing to provide Judo for people with learning disabilities will become an accredited Special Olympics GB programme

Case Study and Editor Notes:

 Special Olympics GB Judo How it all began: James Everest

A Case Study as told by Paul Everest,

Special Olympics GB Technical Advisor, Judo:

James Everest, 22 from Battle, joined the Everest family as a neglected 5yr old foster child for a short term placement.  Seventeen years later he is still a part of the family and adopted as one of their own.

“You could say James is responsible for inclusive judo, if that little boy had never walked into our lives 17yrs ago we may never have taken on the challenge of making judo an inclusive sport.”

 Says Paul Everest, “I started Westerleigh Judo as a small club with just half dozen children.James asked to come along, a little boy with what you can only describe as quite a profound learning disability, huge behaviour problems, no balance or co-ordination -- a challenge for anybody. A judo session with James would last only a few minutes: he was forever being sent off or running off, but James had a deep rooted desire to be like everyone else. Many would have turned their back on James, but Westerleigh was often captivated by those moments when he stayed on the mat and smiled (again something that in the early days was not often seen).

 “As the weeks turned into months and months into years it became apparent that James despite his disability and behaviour really enjoyed judo and being around everyone. James’ next step was to take part in competitions. He lost every fight, and was thrust into the mat again and again. Each and every time that little boy got up smiling and would often come away clutching the Spirit of Judo award.  

 “James inspired Westerleigh to move into coaching children with disabilities and so we approached Special Olympics GB. Judo wasn't a sport of theirs but after a couple of years it became one and so Westerleigh became Westerleigh Judokwai Hastings & Rother Special Olympics GB. My parents took James, their other foster children, and other learning disabled athletes at the club all over Europe.

 “James has fought with Pan-disability in Holland, Slovenia, Wales, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and Scotland and until 2006 he never won a fight. Then it all changed:  in 2006 James was invited to go to China as part of the SOGB ambassadorial team and so off we flew -- unfortunately this was one trip my parents couldn't make with him and it was the one competition that James came away winning his first ever fight and bringing home a Gold medal and a very proud coach (me who by now he was calling his brother).

 “James has gone on to inspire many parents and athletes at our club, becoming a junior referee for the BJA refereeing both main stream and special needs competitions. He's a qualified table official and is now one of the BJA's young officials. At our club he has been the editor of our newsletter, is a committee member, stores manager and has helped to raise thousands of pounds over the years for not only Westerleigh but for disabled children.”

James Everest recently represented Great Britain in Judo at Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens.  It was 2011’s largest sporting event with 180 countries and 7000 learning disabled athletes.  He returned with a well-earned Silver medal.

Editors Notes:

Special Olympics Great Britain: Transforming Lives through Sport

Special Olympics Great Britain is the country’s largest provider of year-round sports training and competition for adults and children with learning disabilities, regardless of their ability. The charity encourages every individual to become more self-confident, while improving their fitness, health and wellbeing by taking part, training and competing in 23 Olympic-type sports. Our athletes discover new abilities and talents. And for many, they have, for the first time, not only teammates, but mates.

Special Olympics Great Britain was established over 30 years ago and has nearly 8,000 athletes in 135 clubs in England, Scotland and Wales run by a dedicated army of over 2,800 volunteers that act in a wide variety of roles from sport coaches to fundraisers. They are supported by a small staff team at the London head office. By 2013 the charity hopes to grow the programme from 8,000 athletes to 20,000 and from 2,600 volunteers to 6,000.

The charity encourages every individual to become more self-confident, while improving their fitness, health and wellbeing by taking part, training and competing in 23 Olympic-type sports. Our athletes discover new abilities and talents. And for many, they have, for the first time, not only teammates, but mates.

Special Olympics competitions are structured so that athletes compete with other athletes of similar ability in equitable divisions. National Games are held every 4 years alternating between Summer World Games and Winter World Games, and then European and International Games.

Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organisations.  Special Olympics is recognised as the third member of the Olympic family, but it is not just a sporting event,-- it’s a sporting way of life for all people with learning disabilities between the ages of 6 to 80 with an IQ of 75 or less. Paralympics provides elite-only level competition for multi-disabled groups including those with learning disabilities. 

 In Great Britain there are an estimated 1.2 million people with a learning disability.  When you consider families, friends and carers, the total footprint of those affected is near up to 12 million people.  200 babies will be born this week with a learning disability.  They will face discrimination all their life.

 Special Olympics is the largest sports training and competition programme in the world in nearly 200 countries with over 3.5 million athletes. 

Special Olympics Great Britain’s President is Lawrie McMenemy MBE.  The charity’s Special Olympics Great Britain’s first Ambassador was Olympic Gold Medalist Lord Sebastian Coe. The charity’s current Ambassadors include: TV Presenter Chris Kamara, Olympic Champions Darren Campbell MBE and Katharine Merry, England Women’s Football Coach Hope Powell, NBA superstar John Amaechi, British Ski Champion and BBC-TV presenter Graham Bell, World and Olympic Champion Canoeist Anna Hemmings, football legend Ossie Ardiles, former PGA professional golfer and mind coach Karl Morris.

Special Olympics GB Chief Executive Karen Wallin and BJA Chief Executive Scott McCarthy