Norfolk Wheelchair Rugby Club says Paralympics is key to growing the sport
The opening ceremony of the Paralympics is tonight
The chair of a Wheelchair Rugby club in Norfolk is telling us that events like the Paralympics are key to getting more local people involved in para-sports.
The 2024 Games in Paris officially gets underway today - with two athletes from Norfolk taking part in events that run until September 8th.
"One of the wheelchairs alone costs £5,000"
Darren Wiles is from Norfolk Knights Club, based in Wymondham: "Getting the exposure out there and getting people excited about the game, and then capitalising on that, is key.
"If we could get another two or three people in the door and keep growing, that would be ideal."
He says they might have a future Paralympian in their midst: "We've got a particular player with very potential that I believe will play in the Olympics in the future.
"It's one of those where you can come to club and have a go or you can take it more seriously and we can feed you into the pathways, if you've got the talent, and then you just never know."
Darren tells us that funding continues to be an issue: "There are grants out there, but they are very hard to get.
"One of the wheelchairs alone costs £5,000 and as a club we can only raise that sort of money through grants, as it's unfair to charge people lots of money every month, as some people with disabilities are working while others aren't."
What's next?
Paralympics-GB are gear up to face the Aussies in their first game of Wheelchair Rugby on Thursday at 10.30am.
Norfolk's wheelchair tennis stars Alfie Hewett and Ben Bartram get underway on Friday.
The opening ceremony of the Paralympics gets underway from 7pm tonight and is expected to last until 10pm.
The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games runs from today until September 8th.