Paralympic campaigner to receive honorary degree

Dr Price started his career as a physical education teacher for children with severe physical disabilities, before moving on to become head of delegation to the Great Britain team in five consecutive Summer Paralympic Games.

His subsequent roles as Chairman of the British Paralympic Association, President of the European Paralympic Committee and more recently, President of the International Federation for sport for athletes with an intellectual disability (Inas), have seen unprecedented achievements in disability sport.

Dr Price has campaigned throughout his four-decade career for the equal promotion of disability groups within Paralympics. However, when intellectually-disabled athletes were excluded from future Paralympic competition in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, Dr Price was encouraged to intervene directly, by accepting the Inas presidency and working with the International Paralympic Committee to find a solution in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

His vision to develop a system of classification was key in bringing about a decision in 2009 to re-instate competition for Paralympic athletes in time for the 2012 Paralympic Games. One hundred and twenty athletes went on to compete in London in athletics, swimming and table tennis.

In 1993 he was awarded an OBE for services to sport and the disabled, and gained membership of the Paralympic Order in 2006.

He will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sport Science at 1pm on Friday 28 July, for his global services to disability sport.

Leeds Beckett University Chancellor, Sir Bob Murray CBE, said: “Dr Price’s achievements in disability sport have had significant global impact; something we aspire to for all of our students here at Leeds Beckett University.

“His success leaves a lasting legacy for all athletes with an intellectual disability across the world, and shows our students just what can be achieved with the grounding of a degree from our University and the ‘can do’ attitude of a truly inspirational campaigner. He has worked tirelessly for the inclusion of Paralympic athletes, and we are extremely proud to call him an alumnus of the University and now an Honorary Doctorate.”

The full list of the nine honorary degrees to be awarded by Leeds Beckett University can be found here.