Para Ice Hockey gaining momentum despite funding difficulties

ABC NEWS (Australia)

It's a little-known sport in Australia but Para Ice Hockey is gaining traction across the world. Despite growing interest in WA the local team is struggling to secure enough funding to keep up with demand.

Transcript

00:00Swapping wheels for sleds, Michael Francis has represented Australia in para-ice hockey,

00:08a sport just as physical as its able-bodied counterpart.

00:13The feeling of, I guess, freedom for myself, being able to just glide on that ice and the

00:21speed you can go.

00:22You know, I can't go that fast in my wheelchair.

00:25He wants others to have the chance to do so.

00:28There's not much around and it's hard to find things for disability, so being able to come

00:31out and do this is really good.

00:34WA had six athletes compete in the recent world championships in Thailand, and this

00:38come and try day is an effort to grow the sport even more, but it needs more funding

00:42to do so.

00:43Ice rinks are $700 an hour.

00:46The guys wear around $2,000 worth of protective gear, plus there's the sleds and the sticks,

00:52and they come from Canada.

00:53They're about $1,500.

00:55WA only has two ice rinks.

00:57Neither are purpose-built or fit for competition.

01:00Here is, especially during the season, booked out just the whole time from six in the morning

01:07to ten at night.

01:11But despite its barriers, players are eager to push the sport forward.

01:14That's all I want, the sport to grow, get to an Olympic level, a level for Australia.

01:20An opportunity for emerging athletes across the country.

01:24For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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