The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) has become one of only 12 projects across the UK to be selected by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to showcase its accredited fitness equipment scheme as part of the 12 for 2012: Winning With Innovation programme.
Chinese journalists along with a trade delegation from the UK embassy in China attended an event at the EIS in Sheffield on 31st March 2008 to gain an insight into the IFI project as they were given a presentation and demonstration of the equipment for both disabled and non-disabled people.
The 12 for 2012 programme focuses on profiling products and services that have, or will, revolutionise sport through design and innovation in materials, products or services.
Richard Caborn MP for Sheffield Central and Ambassador for the 2018 World Cup Bid, GB wheelchair Paralympians John Hall and Jo Harper and Hockey Olympian, Jennie Bimson, were also at the event to see the equipment being demonstrated.
The country’s former Sports Minister, Richard Caborn was delighted that the IFI had been chosen by the UKTI. “During my time as Minister, I took a significant interest in this project. In the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, we broke ground by integrating disabled athletes within the competition and it would be fitting if this UK initiative could help develop new opportunities for disabled people not only in China, but throughout the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”
The IFI, with the support of the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), has been working with equipment suppliers and manufacturers, fitness chain operators and fitness industry training providers for seven years to ensure that gyms across England and Northern Ireland are fully accessible for disabled people and their work will now be promoted at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics this summer, with the IFI invited to exhibit at the Games.
This year 40,000 disabled people will start using one of the 190 facilities in the UK accredited by the IFI, with the number of accredited gyms expected to double by the end of 2009.
Bernard Atha, CBE, Chairman of the IFI’s Board of Directors said; “The scheme itself is unique in the world. Central to its success has been the investment in the design of fitness equipment by many of the leading fitness equipment manufacturers which has provided the market with over 55 pieces of accredited inclusive fitness equipment and at the same time established new design standards for fitness equipment.”
The IFI has driven the development of an accredited list of fitness equipment with the research and development being lead by Sheffield-based sport and leisure consultants Montgomery Leisure Services alongside South Yorkshire’s SportsPulse Project and Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). The Initiative has been made possible through funding from Sport England.
Professor Steve Haake from SHU said; “This award is well deserved recognition for the work that the IFI has done to stimulate designers and manufacturers of fitness equipment to embrace inclusive design and technology in an innovative way. SportsPulse is proud to be associated with these cutting edge developments, the IFI Equipment standards and in stimulating the sports technology business in the region.”
Martin Havenhand, Executive Chair of the Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 Games said; “London 2012 is actually the Paralympic Games as well as the Olympic Games and this particular Initiative very much provides legacy opportunities for disabled people to become more active. The Yorkshire Committee fully supports the programme overall and congratulate the individuals who have developed the Initiative to this stage.”
Cllr Peter Price, Chair of the Sport England Yorkshire Board said; "What a pleasure to see that once again, Yorkshire has led the way on a really innovative programme. Sport England has invested £6 million in the Inclusive Fitness Initiative over the past six years. Our investment has supported the accreditation of nearly 200 sites across England. As a result of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative, more people than ever before are able to access top quality gym facilities and equipment. This figure will grow and grow over the coming years."
