Cheers and smiles filled Studio City at the first Angel City Sports Youth Competition.
This multi-sport event wants to introduce young participants to the world of adaptive sports.
“I would say our heart is in getting kids and adults with disabilities into sports,” Clayton Fletch, co-founder of Angel City Sports, told NBCLA. “But if you can get them to stick with the sport and keep them involved, there are a lot of other benefits.”
From blind soccer to wheelchair basketball and even track and field, young athletes had the opportunity to play and compete with each other.
Theo Dawson, 16, grew up as a competitive dancer, but a rare disability has left him dependent on a wheelchair.
“More than any physical problem, the biggest problem I’m dealing with is overcoming people’s expectations of me.”
Theo’s mother, Diane Dawson, recalled the first day her daughter experienced her new reality.
“There are a lot of emotions: sadness, anger, fear. And for me, I’m always really pragmatic and determined to try very quickly and find whatever resources I can to get my child involved again. ” Dawson said.
Dawson said her daughter has always been “resilient,” but events like the youth tournament have made their world even bigger.
“Once you’re part of this community, whether it’s as a disabled athlete or as a volunteer, you’re there forever,” Dawson said. And that’s amazing.
These young athletes were coached by Ezra Fletch, a Paralympic athlete and current world high jump champion. He wants to help the sport pave the way for the next generation.
“This fills my bucket and it’s like refueling my gas tank. At the end of the day, we need to be motivated and see purpose and meaning behind our actions. And these kids are my meaning behind what I’m chasing.
Messages of perseverance, community, and hope shine through as parents cheer on their children as they jump over fences and race toward the finish line.
Theo Dawson said: “I think there needs to be more awareness about how much accessibility there is in the sports world. I really love the community we have here.”
