The report, which was compiled by the Assembly's Economy, Culture and Sport (ECS) Committee, follows up on a 2006 report which highlighted the worrying low level of physical activity among disabled Londoners.

Since that time, the number of disabled Londoners achieving the recommended level of physical activity has only risen very slightly to around one in ten despite the efforts of successive London Mayors and improvements to facilities.

Dee Doocey (pictured), the chair of the Assembly's ECS Committee, warned that the situation needs to be looked at urgently in order not to jeopardise the legacy from the London 2012 Paralympics Games where the world's best disabled athletes, such as South African sprint star Oscar Pistorius, will be competing in the city.

"In the six years since the publication of our first report on the subject, more and more disabled children are being educated in mainstream schools but teachers are still not being given the necessary training to include them in sport and physical education," she said.

"Until the Government addresses this problem, the situation will only get worse.

"With the 2012 Games just around the corner, it would be a terrible legacy to see the world's best disabled athletes competing in the city and then fail to capitalise on their inspirational example."


The report does recognise that, in his Inclusive and Active strategy, Mayor of London Boris Johnson (pictured) and his partners have the right overall approach.

But the report sets out a number of improvements that could help ensure more progress is made.

These include promoting active travel options through Transport for London, ensuring teachers have the right skills to keep disabled children involved in school sports, and considering using London 2012 volunteers to encourage disabled people to stay active.

"The Mayor has the right overall approach, but London simply has to get better at helping disabled people stay active," added Doocey.

The Committee has today set out its conclusions in a letter to the Mayor of London and Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove.

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