Wagga boccia players are looking to build a bigger community with hopes of sending a group to the 2032 Brisbane Paralympics. Photo: Supplied.
When thinking of a sport for all, one’s mind may not directly think of boccia, but that’s exactly what Rory Leighton-Popple and the team at the Wagga Crows are trying to change.
Boccia is a sport predominantly played by people with cerebral palsy and requires players to throw or roll a leather ball down a ramp in an attempt to get it as close to the jack (a small white ball) as possible. The more balls one team has near the jack, the more points that team scores.
Boccia has been represented at the Paralympics since 1984 and is played by more than 74 countries, including Australia. However, for some reason, Wagga hasn’t quite jumped onto the trend. But Mr Leighton-Popple believes Wagga is the perfect place to form a new competition.
“I believe it is the most inclusive sport in the world,” he said.
“I’ve been coaching the Wagga school team for the last six years, but there hasn’t been anything outside the school for the Riverina people to be able to join.
“I thought it’s about time we get something happening. When it comes to wheelchair sports in town, we have wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and even wheelchair AFL, but we don’t have a boccia competition.
“There has been such a gap in getting people with disability or mental health issues into a sport that they can play along with, and boccia gives that opportunity.”
Mr Leighton-Popple has since helped found the Wagga Crows, a boccia team that meets weekly. His dreams for the team extend further than just playing against competitors, with his eyes firmly set on the 2032 Brisbane Paralympics.
“There’s a little bit of a stigma that boccia is only for people in a wheelchair, and what we are doing with the Wagga Crows is trying to get as many different people from as many walks of life as possible involved with the sport,” he said.
“I am pressed that if we build a solid community here, we can get people from Wagga attending the Paralympics in 2032. Whether that be volunteers to help run the sport, referees to adjudicate it, or even the Paralympians themselves.
“I want Wagga to have Paralympians in boccia by 2032. So there are a lot of pathways for not just athletes themselves to get involved. We need volunteers and the like in order for the sport to run smoothly in 2032.”
On a local level, Mr Leighton-Popple is inviting anyone and everyone to follow the Wagga Crows on Facebook and reach out to attend their next gathering.
“Anyone can jump on Facebook; look up Wagga Crows. They’ll be able to contact the group, and we can help them join in from there.”
The Crows’ Facebook details can be found here.
