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Raise Your Game: You're a member of the Great Britain Paralympic wheelchair team. What are some of the highlights of your sporting career?

Ade Adepitan: My first Paralympics in Sydney in 2000 were amazing. It was a culmination of 10-12 years of hard work to make it into the squad.

We got to the final in the 2002 World Championships in Japan despite being the rank outsiders. We beat the USA in the opening game but lost to them in the final. It was one of the best tournaments I've played in.

We won a bronze medal in the Athens Paralympics in 2004. Making two crucial free throws in the last seconds to help us beat The Netherlands in the quarter finals was a highlight. And in the Paralympic World Cup this year I hit the winning shot against Australia.

RYG: What's next on the basketball agenda?

AA: I'm doing club stuff at the moment. I've been focusing on international success in the last few years so I've not won a league championship yet. I'd like to win a cup title, and the World Championships are later this year too.

RYG: How do you fit all the training in with your TV presenting work?

AA: It's difficult fitting it all in. When I first started it wasn't as bad as I wasn't as prominent on TV, but over the years it's become more difficult. I have to be really organised, methodical and plan my time - every second, minute and hour of the day. I try to fit in rest time too, away from doing all the TV work, etc, to give my brain a chance to rest.

Rest time is crucial - it's just as important as training and working. I have to schedule about four to five months in advance and put things on a calendar to work out what's feasible and what's not feasible. One of the key things is preparation, preparation, preparation.

RYG: You were recently awarded an MBE for your contribution to disability sports. How did that feel?

AA: Amazing! It was a wonderful honour to receive. A total shock - I never expected it. My sister phoned me when I was at the Paralympic World Cup. She said a letter had arrived with a Royal stamp on it.

I was worried that it was because I hadn't paid enough tax or something, but when she opened it she started screaming, and Mum was in the background shouting. I'd been nominated to receive an MBE. I was dumbstruck.

When you receive it you can't tell anyone for a month until it has been announced in the press. I had news but I couldn't tell anyone - and I've got the biggest mouth around so it was difficult to keep schtum! I was so excited!

RYG: How do you go about educating kids in relation to what they can achieve? Also, how do you change their attitudes towards disability sports?

AA: I encourage kids to get involved in sport. Being on TV has made me into a bit of a role model. People see me on TV and know my achievements as a sportsman. Hopefully that inspires both able-bodied and disabled people to get involved.

I travel round schools and do wheelchair basketball demos and hang out with kids so they get to meet a Paralympian and see how I live and what I've been through to get to where I am.

With kids it's a totally different ball game. It's not about changing attitudes. They're quite fresh and haven't been influenced by so many things and experiences. They're a lot more open and receptive, not so many preconceptions.

They're inquisitive and likely to ask questions. I just act like me. When I was at school in a drama class, a teacher asked us to talk about what we see in the person next to us. One kid said people see my wheelchair and the things I can't do, but after five minutes they look beyond that and see me.

When you first see someone you do see their physical appearance, but I'll be myself and within five minutes I'll usually get across the right message.

RYG: You lived in Zaragoza, Spain for two years. What was that like?

AA: I was playing for a club team and we went to a tournament in Spain. I played well and the Spanish team approached me and asked me to play for them.

I knew it would be a great opportunity but also knew it would be difficult as I didn't speak any Spanish and didn't know anyone. But obstacles excite me even more as I like a big challenge.

I lived with a Spanish family in a small village and they couldn't really speak English so I had to learn. It wasn't a problem as I wanted to learn. After a few months I moved to student accommodation and lived with 5000 foreign students.

I realised if I wanted to chat up girls and understand my team mates I'd have to learn! [laughs]. I started speaking after about 4 months, and I was fluent after 6-7 months.

RYG: What has sport done for you?

AA: I couldn't scratch the surface on what sport has done for me. I wouldn't be where I am today without it. It's taught me discipline, helped me to become focused, given me goals in life, and taken me all over the world.

When I was a kid I watched the 1984 Olympics on TV and saw Daley Thompson, Seb Coe and Carl Lewis. They really inspired me and made me dream of being an Olympian. When I discovered I could be a Paralympian it kept me off the streets and away from bad influences.

I come from Newham in East London. It's a hard area, and when I go back I see that lots of friends haven't been as fortunate as me. Sport took me out of the area and opened my eyes. I met people from different classes and races.

I've got a meeting with 2012 next week. We're going to try and get something going on a youth scheme and get more kids involved in sport in the Borough of Newham, and put my face out there. If sport can do half as much for them as it has done for me they'll have a great life.