Well over 200 people from across Suffolk and Norfolk took part in a
major Disability Sport event in Lowestoft this Saturday (22
September).
The Disability Sport Showcase Day was held at Waveney Leisure
Centre and was organised by Suffolk-based disability charity Optua.
The event provided free taster sessions in 11 different paralympic
sports for anyone with a physical, sensory or learning
disability.
The sports on offer were archery, football, sailing, judo,
wheelchair basketball, athletics, goalball, sitting volleyball,
table tennis, boccia and powerlifting. Nearly 110 disabled people
came along with many parents, carers, coaches and volunteers also
taking part.
The showcase day was the third such event Optua has organised in
Suffolk and is part of its Suffolk Disability Sport Academy Project
to encourage and enable more disabled people to take part in sport.
The day also gave people the chance to find out more about other
disability sport opportunities in the area.
David Finn, Optua’s Leisure Services Manager, said: “The day was a
great success and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. It’s
fantastic to see people have a go at sports they’ve never had a
chance to experience before and I hope some of those who came along
will want to take part on a more regular basis.
These days are all about taking part and having a go. The number of
clubs and venues which provide disability sport opportunities is
growing all the time and the success of events like this can only
help to encourage people to develop more sporting opportunities for
disabled people.”
The event was supported by several local organisations including
Adnams Charity, Suffolk Sport, Waveney District Council, the Active
Waveney Sports Partnership, Active Norfolk, the Geoffrey Watling
Charity, the Suffolk Foundation and Harrod UK Limited.
For more information about Optua’s Disability Sport Academy call
01473 836770, email
leisure@optua.org.uk
or go to
www.beyourbest.org.uk