Students with a disability say there are limited opportunities for them to compete in sports. But one primary school in Queensland is hoping to change that with about 200 students - with and without disability - taking on a paralympic game.
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00:00 It's a game of strategy and precision.
00:08 The Paralympic sport boccia is also bringing out the competitive side these Brisbane Primary
00:14 School students.
00:15 I think our team often wins.
00:18 Getting to learn more new strategies.
00:20 Just I like the fact that everyone is able to play.
00:24 No matter if you're short, tall, you have a walking stick or you're in a wheelchair,
00:30 you can all play.
00:31 Schools across Queensland compete almost weekly in inter-school sport tournaments.
00:37 But options for students with a disability are limited.
00:40 We've got rugby, we've got basketball, we've got tennis or whatever other sport.
00:45 And then it's like if you're not doing that sport, you can sit in this classroom.
00:49 National boccia champion Sam Thorne is hoping to change that.
00:53 Mostly just going out there to give an introduction to the sport.
00:57 And that's been really enriching for the students and the staff alike.
01:02 It's been a massive hit at MacGregor State School.
01:05 It's now looking for others to join.
01:08 We're looking at a proposal to hopefully lift the profile of boccia and take it from an
01:12 intra-school sport up to an inter-school sport.
01:15 Education Queensland says it's up to the schools and their districts to provide inclusive offerings
01:20 for all students.
01:21 If successful, the school hopes it can inspire future Paralympians.
01:29 Most kids' dreams start when they're at school, so it's got to start somewhere.
01:32 I'm a boccia.
01:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]