Sports group to mark decade of transforming lives

An organisation providing sporting opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special event.

Special Olympics Suffolk, a non-profit community based group, will host its Celebration of Sport event at St Joseph's College in Ipswich on 16 March.

Past and present athletes have been invited including Hamish Crawford and Donna Wyatt who will be helping run the event.

They both said the organisation had shown they are able to enjoy to sport and they encouraged other athletes to attend the event.

Special Olympics Suffolk is a branch of Special Olympics Great Britain and first launched in Lowestoft offering artistic gymnastics and athletics.

Today it also offers the likes of boccia, badminton, football and alpine skiing.

The Celebration of Sport event will see a rotation of these sports as well as a presentation from some athletes who will speak about how sport influenced their lives.

"I was at primary school and when I did P.E. for the first time, I [thought] when I get older I want to become a coach in football or athletics" Mr Crawford told BBC Radio Suffolk on how his interest in sport developed.

The athlete said he "loved" sport and he is also a member of Orwell Panthers - an inclusive Ipswich based athletics club.

Mr Crawford praised Special Olympics Suffolk for also adapting to his physical needs and he enjoyed the fact he had "found a sport that I can do".

He is also no stranger to competition and has previously competed in regional and national events.

"If you do it it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, I really enjoy it," he added.

Ms Wyatt, who is also an athlete leader, specialises in Badminton. She explained she had loved sport her whole life.

"I love football, badminton and I play football for the disability adult team for Ipswich Town FC and I train on a Thursday," she said.

"I just love trying to be active rather than sit around. I don't like sitting around."

She will help with the badminton during the Celebration of Sport event and similarly competes in various other competitions.

In a message to anyone perhaps nervous about coming along to the event, she added: "Come along to our celebration event and give all the sports a try.

"If you like it come along to one of the sessions with us and you can have a laugh or joke."

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