NEWS AND EVENTS

Paralympian Matt Scott Inspires Brooklyn Youth

Three-time Paralympic wheelchair basketball player Matt Scott has traveled the world playing the sport he loves and on July 24th it took him deep into the heart of one Brooklyn’s most under-served communities: East New York. In the utility room of the Nelson Mandela Community Center, Up2Us Sports member organization Street Soccer USA gathered 50 of their summer camp children to hear Scott share his inspiring story about how sports have made a powerful impact in his life.  Born with Spina Bifida, Scott has spent his entire life in a wheelchair. But he didn’t let it stop him from playing a game he fell in love with at a young age. He answered questions from the group of 7 and 8 year olds that ranged from how he goes to bed at night to who his favorite basketball player is. He surprised all of them when he was handed a basketball and showed off his expert ball handling skills.  Matt showed these Brooklyn youth how sport allowed him to turn his disability into an opportunity – and an Olympic medal!

Matt has represented the United States in international wheelchair basketball for over a decade, including at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games. Team USA opens play against Colombia at the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto on August 8th, in preparation for the 2016 Rio Paralympics.