My Sport, My Voice! Stars set for Ecuador 2015 Global Games

My Sport, My Voice! Athlete Ambassador, Peter Millar and Athlete Rep, Shain Lewis are in confident mood ahead of representing Great Britain at the Ecuador 2015 Inas Global Games.

Millar and Lewis are two of a six strong squad selected by the Tennis Foundation, in partnership with the UK Sports Association, to represent Great Britain at the Games, for elite athletes with learning disability, in Guayaquil, Ecuador from 20th to 27th September.

Millar is the only one of the six to have previously competed at the Global Games, which is held once every four years. Millar won the men’s consolation singles at the Italy 2011 Global Games.

Two years later Millar won gold medal in the men’s doubles with Fabrice Higgins at the 2013 World Championships in the Czech Republic. At the same competition, Lewis earned a doubles fourth place finish and consolation singles bronze medallist.

Millar said: “I’m really pleased to be given the chance to represent my country and proud to do so. I just want to play to the best of my ability and go as far as I can.”

Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive at the UK Sports Association said: “We are thrilled that our work with the Tennis Foundation has enabled this talented team of players to represent Great Britain on the world stage.

“The Inas Global Games is a perfect example of sport at its best and demonstrates why the UK should fully embrace British athletes across the sports achieving in the wider performance landscape beyond just the Paralympic Games.

“We are delighted that our My Sport, My Voice! Athlete Ambassador, Peter Millar and Athlete Rep, Shain Lewis have been selected to the team. Both Peter and Shain are a credit to their sport, their families and My Sport, My Voice!

“It demonstrates that with the right support, athletes with learning disability can achieve whatever they want to in life, including competing at the very highest levels in performance sport.

“We wish the whole team every success in Ecuador, we know they will do the nation proud.”

Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation’s Head of Disability Player Performance said: “We are extremely proud of the achievements of our players at previous Inas Championships and to have had Great Britain players dominating at the last two World Championships bodes well for the Inas Global Games in Ecuador and beyond.”

The other players representing Great Britain alongside Millar and Lewis players are:

Fabrice Higgins (Chorley, Lancashire)
Thomas Mellor (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)
Dominic Iannotti (Prestwick, Scotland)
Dawn Taylor (Ferndown, Dorset)

And Richards added: “We are delighted that Dominic and Dawn are making their international debuts in Ecuador and this is testimony to the success of our performance pathway in partnership with UKSA.”