Sheffield Paralympians and Athletes of Para-Ice Hockey have said they need to raise their own funds to be able to compete for the UK in National Competitions.
Para-Ice Hockey is a worldwide sport that gets little recognition on the world stage in terms of viewership, and is a struggling sport in the UK, but is community driven and unfortunately a self-funded sport.
This means that all equipment, gear and the other necessities required have to be paid by the player, even on the National Paralympics Team.
Paul Brown, of the Sheffield SteelKings and of Team GB, said: “It’s one of those sports that’s absolutely fantastic cause no matter where your background is, it’s got something for you.”
Team GB’s para-ice hockey team won the 2023 nationals play offs and Great Britain will play in the next IPC Pool-B Tournament, which will take place in Norway this April.
But Mr Brown said to compete for his country will can cost each player up to £2,000.
He said: “If there wasn’t any donations, the sport would die.”
This is due to the lack of funding in the sport as he said ‘nothing in the English system is set aside for GB Para-Ice Hockey’.
Chairwoman of Para-Ice Hockey Megan McEvoy said: “Athletes are self funded in that it is their responsibility to pay for everything be that through fundraising, personal sponsors, grants from charities or simply out of pocket.”
Due to the nature of training and camps for Team GB, it costs a further £500 per month to attend these and the costs are not funded or substituted to help the players.
This is not the case for the rest of the world in Para-Ice Hockey. Many countries actively receive funding and salaries for competing at the national level.
Para-Ice Hockey fan Bailey Astle said: “The sport is so small and community driven, that most games are free entry, just because that little bit of exposure to the sport is crucial.”
These issues within Paralympics GB, partnered with the disabilities these players face, mean a lot of the players are unemployed and in debt due to the sport they love and competing at the national level.
Paralympics GB has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
The GoFundMe is linked here to donate to the cause.
