Special Olympics Great Britain, who organise the National Summer Games, are a charity that provides year-round sports training and competition programmes for children and adults with learning disabilities.

The programme is designed to allow athletes of all ages and abilities to learn, enjoy and reap the social and other benefits from participation in individual and team sports.

Athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics, badminton, boccia, football five-a-side, golf, gymnastics (artistic), gymnastics (rhythmic), table tennis, ten-pin bowling and tennis, and BPA
chief executive Tim Hollingsworth wished them the best of luck as they undertake their final preparations before the Games start next Wednesday (August 28).

"At the British Paralympic Association, we applaud all disabled sportsmen and women who achieve in their chosen sport," he said.

"As the Special Olympics get underway in Bath, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of the athletes taking part the very best of luck, as we know that they will have been training hard to prepare for this event."

"The Paralympic Games and the Special Olympics are two very distinct and separate events.

"Special Olympics is a grassroots programme and not all of the 12 sports on the programme for these Games are Paralympic sports.

"The National Summer Games are a great opportunity for children and adults with a learning disability to compete in structured sport to increase their competitive experience, in addition to highlighting the underlying physical and psychological benefits of sporting engagement."

Around 1,700 athletes from across England, Scotland and Wales will compete at the Games next week

UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability chief executive Tracey McCillen welcomed the encouragement offered by Hollingsworth.

"This is a great event for athletes to just enjoy their sport – my best wishes to all the competitors involved," she said.

"Perhaps we might see some athletes from the event who could potentially consider a move to the performance pathway beyond Special Olympics programmes.

"Grass roots events like the National Games could be a starting point for those athletes of higher ability to pursue the rigours that elite sport has to offer through the Paralympic pathway or route to Global Games."

Athletes who progress to the performance pathway are supported by the respective Sports Governing Body, the UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability (UKSA) and its members, which may lead to inclusion in the UKSA International Federation for Para-athletes with intellectual disability (INAS) Global Games Team or ultimately the ParalympicsGB team.

The action is due last until September 1.

Click here for more information on the Games. 

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