Jun 2, 2020 | ActivLives, ActivSports
The announcement has recently been made, by Special Olympics GB, that the National Summer Games, which were due to be held in Liverpool in August 2021, have been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several of our ActivLives regulars had already been selected to participate in these Games as part of the Eastern Region Badminton and Boccia squads.
“This news has come as an enormous disappointment for all of those athletes who were so looking forward to the event in Liverpool. Despite the disappointment, we all understand why the decision to postpone has been taken by Special Olympics GB”, said Mike McCarthy from ActivLives.
The announcement, made by Special Olympics GB, included the following statement:
It was agreed by all, that given the heightened risk to the athletes with intellectual disabilities, who are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and the uncertainty surrounding the impact of Covid-19, postponement is the right decision to protect our athletes and the integrity of the Games. There have been additional fundraising challenges as Covid-19 has impacted the whole of society and in particular charity fundraising.
All of us at ActivLives very much hope that these Games will be able to be re-scheduled, hopefully in 2022, and that all of the athletes get the opportunity that they have earned, to represent our region on a national stage.
If you would like to find out more the full statement can be found at https://www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk/news-media/2021-special-olympics-gb-national-summer-games-postponed
May 11, 2020 | ActivSports
Four Suffolk boccia players have been selected, as part of the Eastern Region team, to compete at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games, which are to be held in Liverpool in August 2021.
Boccia, originally a Paralympic sport, is played whilst seated. As well as being part of the Paralympics, the sport is now also an integral feature of the Special Olympics competition programme.
Special Olympics sport is targeted at participants who have an intellectual (learning) disability. The SOGB National Summer Games is a multi-sport event held every four years. There will be over 2,000 athletes competing at the Games and all will benefit from the support of the 800 volunteers who will help to make it all happen.
Our local players will help to make up a 16-strong team from the Eastern Region, all of whom will compete in the Singles and Team Boccia events in Liverpool.
All of the selected athletes play regularly as part of the ‘Inclusive Boccia’ sessions held in Ipswich as part of the ActivLives Everyday Activ programme.
We look forward to the time when it is safe enough for all of our Special Olympics athletes to get back to preparing for the Games.
Apr 2, 2019 | ActivSports
Special Olympics Suffolk badminton players enjoyed a very successful trip to the West Midlands recently when they competed in the Special Olympics Regional Tournament held in Cannock, Staffordshire.
The Suffolk team, consisting of 12 local players, played with, and competed against, players from 10 other Special Olympics clubs from across the country from as far afield as Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Exeter, Wigan, Worcester and Shropshire. The Suffolk medal tally included 4 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze.
“Our team performed brilliantly”, said Mike McCarthy, Coach with Special Olympics Suffolk and ActivLives. “We are very proud of our players who all played up to, and in many cases beyond, their rankings. In addition to being very competitive, our players show a great attitude of support for each other and sportsmanship towards their opponents. They really are a privilege to work with”.
Special Olympics is sport for athletes with learning disabilities, and is relatively new to Suffolk, having only been established in our county as recently as 2014.
In addition to badminton, Special Olympics Suffolk also competes in athletics and gymnastics and is planning to add boccia and football to the list before the end of this year.
If you would like to find out more about Special Olympics opportunities in Suffolk, information can be found on the website at www.specialolympicssuffolk.org, by emailing mike@activlives.org.uk or by telephoning on 01473 345350
May 8, 2018 | ActivSports
The Special Olympics Eastern Region Badminton Tournament, which is being organised by Special Olympics Suffolk with the support of ActivLives and the Suffolk County Council ‘Most Active County’ initiative, will be held in Ipswich on Saturday 12th May.
“Special Olympics is sport for athletes with an intellectual disability and is the third element of the Olympic movement together with the
Paralympics and of course the Olympics themselves”, said Terry
McEntee, Chairman of Special Olympics Suffolk.
“This tournament will provide a great opportunity for our players in
Suffolk to compete against Special Olympians from across the country”, said Mike McCarthy from ActivLives and Special Olympics Suffolk.
The tournament, which will be a doubles competition, will serve as one of the last opportunities for selected players to prepare for the Special Olympics GB Anniversary Games which are being held in Stirling, Scotland this August.
The forthcoming competition in Ipswich will be restricted to players who are registered with Special Olympics GB, “We would love to get more
Special Olympic badminton players involved across our county”, said
Mike.
If you would like to find out more about how you can play badminton with Special Olympics Suffolk, please contact Mike McCarthy on 01473
345350 or email mike@activlives.org.uk
Oct 24, 2017 | ActivSports
Eight players from our county made the trip down to the south coast with five of them managing to come away with medals (three silver and two bronze), from the singles competitions.
Special Olympics, which is sport for athletes with an intellectual disability, is relatively new to our county with the Suffolk branch having only been established as recently as 2014.
“This tournament provided a great opportunity for our players to compete against Special Olympians from clubs across the country ranging from Birmingham to Cornwall,” said Mike McCarthy from ActivLives and Special Olympics Suffolk.
“All of the players, coaches and supporters did a brilliant job of supporting each other throughout the inevitable ‘ups and downs’ of an event like this one. The players have put in a lot of hard work to be able to be competitive at this level, we are very proud of all of them,” added Mike.
This tournament was one of several that are organised as part of the Special Olympics calendar of events held across the country.
If you would like to find out more about playing badminton with Special Olympics Suffolk, please contact Mike McCarthy on 01473 345350 or email mike@activlives.org.uk
