Safaraz, Coach Johnson taking in CGF GAPS Training Camp

…in preparation for 2024 Paris Olympic Paralympic qualification

National para table tennis champion Gibran Safaraz and National Coach Linden Johnson both arrived safely at University of Birmingham to participate in the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) GAPS Global 2024 Training Camp being hosted there in the United Kingdom.
The goal of GAPS is to offer emerging athletes and coaches from the Commonwealth access to additional skills, knowledge, and resources. This is driven by advancing education and supporting the development of inclusive sport pathways that promote positive social change in sport and communities.
The camp runs from June 8 to June 18, 2024, with para-powerlifting from June 8-17 and para table tennis from June 9-18.

Twenty-one different countries from across all Commonwealth regions are being represented, with just over 80 participants at the camp. The camp is funded and supported by Commonwealth Games Federation in collaboration with the University of Birmingham UK.
Athletes and coaches will undergo a series of tailored, highly personal workshops and sessions, which will lead them to explore the world of sport and athletes for social change, as well as training them in the key skills they need for becoming compassionate, responsible, and effective social change makers.
The camp will focus on:
• Supporting athletes on their preparation and journey to Paris 2024 or as they step onto their development pathway for the future.
• Providing developing athletes and coaches with skills, knowledge, and opportunities to advance their capacity and abilities
• Technical training sessions
• Coach development sessions as a strategy to providing opportunities for developing new talents in their respective countries
• Educational sessions (ie, sport science, safeguarding, anti-doping, etc)
• Increasing the number of countries participating in para sport at the Commonwealth Games
• Providing opportunities for new, developing and more experienced para-athletes to improve their performance.
GAPS is a sport for development and peace programme that supports the development of inclusive sport pathways throughout the Commonwealth. Developed by the Commonwealth Games Federation and Griffith University, GAPS has expanded into a mutually-beneficial and collaborative relationship with other partners joining on this exciting but challenging journey. The camp targets para table tennis and powerlifting.
Safaraz and Coach Johnson are using the GAPS training camp as preparation for Safaraz’s 2024 Paris Olympic Paralympic qualification event scheduled for June 22 to June 28, 2024 in Czech Republic.