How paralympic athletes can use a motorhome

After the thrills of wheelchair rugby, Paralympic athletes may prefer the gentile pace of motorhome hire....

The London 2012 Paralympic Games begin on 29th August 2012. For many, the event supersedes the Summer Olympic Games because of the sheer determination of its participants, overcoming disabilities that many may have let ruin their lives. The humanity of endurance can be witnessed in over 20 different sports; some, such as Sailing, Equestrian and Judo, are already familiar to many but other events are less well-known. Take the sport of Boccia: it sounds like a tasty Italian bread to me, but little did I know the sport has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1984. Boccia is a variation on bocce or boules, was designed to be played by those with cerebral palsy and has since evolved for wheelchair users. One of the great things about Boccia at the Paralympics is that there is no gender discrimination; individuals compete in mixed categories only.

Source: IWRF Eron

So how do Boccia athletes, or any other wheelchair users, use a motorhome? A standard motorhome, much like a standard car, is not well-suited to wheelchair use for 2 main reasons:

- manual driving controls
- limited internal space (no room for wheelchair use)

Wheelchair-friendly motorhomes or disabled-access motorhomes have been adapted or custom-made to rectify these problems.

No more clutches and manual gears, disabled motorhomes have automatic transmission and can be operated by hand controls. These motorhomes will also have a wheelchair ramp to allow access into the living space, and a wheelchair lock with seatbelt, for safe transit in a motorhome. With these options, it is up to the wheelchair user to decide whether they want to drive or enjoy the scenery from the back. Another essential feature is the widened corridor and spacious washroom with wide door, completely accessible in the wheelchair.

Wheelchair athletes have a variety of sports to choose from at the Paralympic Games, from  Basketball to Fencing, Powerlifting to Table Tennis . There's even the terrifying idea of Wheelchair Rugby, which was developed in Canada in the 70s and was known as 'murderball'. This thrilling mixed gender sport is sure to be a favourite with viewers in 2012.

Fun Paralympic Face: Did you know there are 170 Gold medals up for grabs in the Paralympic athletics events alone?

Wheelchair users in the UK can explore the country, and mainland Europe and the Republic of Ireland, at their leisure, thanks to the invention of disabled motorhome hire.