Special Olympics Suffolk badminton players did us all proud recently when they competed in the SOGB National Summer Games Badminton Tournament, held in Nottingham. Six of our athletes took part in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions over the two days of the event. This national tournament attracted athletes from across the country with teams from the North-West, West Midlands, East Midlands, South, and the South-West of England as well as competitors from Wales and Scotland.
In the singles our athletes collected three gold medals, one bronze and two 4th places. Across the various doubles events SO Suffolk athletes achieved one gold, three silver, two bronze and three 4th places.
The journey back to Suffolk was just as eventful – Special Olympics Suffolk superstar Jordan and his Dad stopped off at a well-known restaurant for supper and bumped into journalist and well-known TV presenter, Alex Brooker
A very big thanks to everyone who helped the athletes to compete in this event, including the volunteer coaches and the players families, who cheered them all of the way – well done to the SO Suffolk badminton players for getting this summer of national events off to such a great start.
Over thirty golfers supported Special Olympics Suffolk Society Golf day on Tuesday 9th June at Alnesbourne Priory Golf Course raising money to support athletes and coaches participating in the National Summer Games hosted by Special Olympics GB in the coming months.
Blue skies and sunshine chased away the black thunderclouds and all who participated enjoyed keeping dry for two rounds of golf at the tranquil riverside setting.
Vice Chairperson, Terry honoured SO Suffolk by taking the ‘Captain’s Drive’ to start the day off and an enjoyable day was had by all.
Special Olympics Suffolk athletes Ed, Freddie and Simon helped out on the day: Simon caddied for Grandad Chris, Ed ran his own putting competition at lunchtime and all three athletes helped to present prizes and give out awards at the end of the day. Huge thanks and good luck to all three athletes who are competing in the National Summer games (Ed and Freddie in badminton, Simon in gymnastics). We are very proud of you and your achievements and we thank you for being such great role models for SO Suffolk.
The day raised over £3k so huge thanks to the golfers, sponsors and raffle prize donators for their support!
Sponsors: Kevin Edwards, The Pheasants Golf Club, Eric Ainger, Cartec UK, Livefit Gym,Allan Gosling, St Clements Golf Club, The Crouch Family, C Knevett, The Boggis Family.
Raffle Prizes and golf vouchers: Coes, The Rumble Family, Alnesbourne Priory Golf Course, Aldeburgh Golf Course, Felixstowe Golf Club, St Audry’s Golf Club, Halesworth Golf Club, Suffolk Food Hall, The Boggis Family, CarTec Uk, Livefit Gym
Waveney Gymnastics Club hosted their annual Disability Open Competition at the weekend. Over 60 gymnasts participated in the three day event which culminated in a competition on Sunday.
Waveney gymnasts, their coaches and leaders welcomed gymnasts from Germany, Norway, Spain and Latvia, as well as Bury, Sleaford, Hinkley , Lings, Grantham and Prime Acrobatics. The standard of competition was high and the event was well attended and supported.
Huge thanks to organisers and Head Coaches Ellen and Alex for their hard work and dedication in hosting the event and to all officials and volunteers who supported it.
Special Olympics Suffolk badminton players competed recently (May 2026) in the annual Para-Badminton tournament in Gillingham, hosted by Kent Badminton.
Five of our players competed in singles and doubles events competing with, and against, athletes from Kent, Middlesex and Surrey. “Our players did a brilliant job of representing Special Olympics Suffolk”, said Mike McCarthy, SO Suffolk Badminton Coach. “As well as winning a variety of medals across the events, our athletes also had the honour of meeting Derek Batchelor, President of Badminton England”.
On Tuesday 26th May, Special Olympics Suffolk hosted a ‘send off’ for athletes bound for the National Summer Games to wish them good luck as they prepare to compete against other athletes from across the UK.
The athletes present represented 58 athletes from Suffolk preparing to compete in the five sports that Suffolk have competing in the Games: tennis, badminton, athletics, gymnastics and boccia.
The send off celebration was generously hosted at The Hold in conjunction with the ‘Beyond Labels’ exhibition which shines a light on the lives, achievements, and challenges of people with disabilities in Suffolk, past and present Beyond Labels – Suffolk Archives. The Mayor of Ipswich, Cllr Stefan Long once again took time out of his busy schedule and spent time chatting with volunteers, coaches and athletes, wishing them good luck at the National Summer Games.
Good Luck to all athletes, coaches and volunteers who are taking part in the National Summer Games and representing Suffolk – we are so proud of you!
Special Olympics Suffolk hosted another very successful ‘Inclusive Badminton’ tournament in Ipswich recently. The event attracted 27 athletes from Special Olympics groups in Suffolk, Essex, Surrey and Kent. In addition to all of the great volunteers and family members, the day was also attended by the Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Stefan Long.
Chairperson Dr Allison Boggis thanked Mike McCarthy from InclusiveSport for organising such a brilliant event. She commented that the competition on court was fierce and that some great badminton skills were displayed. The atmosphere throughout the event was lively and fun – much kindness and collegiality was observed as coaches and officials supported the players to be their best.
Special Olympics Suffolk are very grateful to all of their partners for their support in hosting these events including ActivLives, Saxons Badminton, Ipswich Borough Council and Special Olympics Great Britain.
On Saturday 25th April, 17 Orwell Panther athletes represented Special Olympics Suffolk in the first Special Olympics regional competition of the year. They competed against their fellow athletes from Norfolk, Worcestershire, St Albans, Hampshire, East Midlands & Cambridge .
The day was bright, sunny and beautifully warm. Perfect conditions for good competition and amazing results.
Overall the athletes from Orwell Panthers brought home 26 Gold medals, 10 Silvers medals, 11 Bronze Medals and 19 Personal Best’s.
An amazing achievement from all concerned, and so early in the season.
Congratulations and well done to every athlete and huge thanks to all officials, volunteers, staff at the Abbeycroft Leisure Centre Bury St Edmunds and SOGB for the hard work and support in making this event such a great competition.
Over 30 participants, their families, carers and supporters took part in the Active Easter Trail in Christchurch Park, Ipswich on Sunday 29th March. At 11am, the Mayor of Ipswich Stefan Long set the trailblazers off in small groups to follow a trail around the park with a passport setting out a map of the route, clues to solve and activities to take part in.
Luckily, the rain held off and although there was a Spring chill in the air, the 2km trail and the sport-related activities along the route soon warmed everyone up. Once they had finished the Trail and answered the final clue, each participant was given an Easter Egg to take away (kindly donated by Jenny Leslie, Nadia Bacha, Yvonne Holmes, DSH Improvements and the Boggis Family).
Lunch was served in St Margaret’s Hall afterwards to hungry trailblazers and the hardy bunch of 24 volunteers (marshals, activity makers, sign-posters and catering crew), followed by the raffle, tea and cake and the SO Suffolk AGM, kindly attended by the High Sheriff of Suffolk, Gulshan Kayembe. Athlete Leaders Donna, Mark and Hamish were hugely instrumental in making the day run smoothly and being fantastic role models for Special Olympics Suffolk.
Massive thanks to the Mayor of Ipswich Stephan Long, the High Sheriff of Suffolk Gulshan Kayembe for giving up their time to come along to the event in support Special Olympics Suffolk on Sunday. Special thanks also to those who donated easter eggs, cakes and food for the event, to our athlete leaders for being so inspirationals and to the trusty band of volunteers who gave up their time to support the event.
NEWS RELEASE
Friday 19th August 2014
Special Olympics Athletics a big success
Athletes from across Suffolk took part in Suffolk’s first ever Special Olympics Athletics Competition at Northgate Track on Wednesday 17th August. Participation in the event qualifies athletes to take part in events across the country including at national level. Although the main aim is to encourage ongoing participation in club coaching and competition, for some the opportunity will be there to be considered for selection by Special Olympics GB for international competition.
Local athletics club Orwell Panthers played a central and pivotal role in supporting Special Olympics Suffolk’s team of volunteers to organise the event.
A number of personal best performances were set with the highlight being a very closely contested 100m which saw Waveney Valley AC athlete Aiden Hewitt win in an excellent time of 12.6 seconds. The quality of the race was such that second placed Rhys Turnbull-Bester posted an impressive 12.9 seconds with host club athlete Ollie Minns taking the bronze in 13.4 seconds.
Murton Mann, the Suffolk based Chairman of Special Olympics Great Britain and a member of the Special Olympics Suffolk Action Group said:
‘’It was wonderful to see so many athletes competing and enjoying themselves. I was really impressed by the high standard of competition and it was great to see so many athletes achieving personal bests spurred on by the atmosphere. A fantastic first for Suffolk in this the inaugural Special Olympics Suffolk competition, the first of many and the start of more opportunities for people with an intellectual disability in our county. A very big thanks to everyone involved in providing ongoing training and for organising this competition, also to Ipswich Orwell Rotary Club for providing the initial start-up funding for Special Olympics Suffolk’’
The timing of Suffolk’s first event coincides with the staging of the Special Olympics European Summer Games in Antwerp which are currently taking place. www.so2014.com
Further information about the athletics competition or Special Olympics Suffolk contact either Terry McEntee on terrymcentee474@gmail.com 07775 557784 or Matt Abbott on matt@elatussports.co.uk or 07846 510139.
ENDS
EDITORS NOTES: SPECIAL OLYMPICS
The charity Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB, www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk est. 1978) is the country’s largest provider of year-round sports training and competition for all people with an Intellectual Disability.
It is recognised as the third member of the “Olympic family” and the only other organisation allowed to use the word Olympic.
Unlike the Paralympics or Olympics, Special Olympics is not just an event every four years for elite athletes but training and personal development for all abilities achieved through regular local sports club meetings leading to participation in regional, national and international events and competitions.
Special Olympic Oath: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”
SOGB is community based run by volunteers in the local community. The charity helps to transform the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities through sport…. BUT is more than just sport, it is training for life.
Until now Suffolk has been one of only four counties in the country not to have a Special Olympics club. The setting up of Special Olympics Suffolk, this first competition and ongoing programme has been possible due to funding from Ipswich Orwell Rotary Club and its Germany counterpart Hanau Maintal Rotary Club.
Locally the added drive is that the Chairman of the SOGB Board lives in Ipswich and is determined to bring the opportunity of Special Olympics to Suffolk.
The second event, which will be a gymnastics competition at Waveney Gymnastics Club in Lowestoft, will take place on Sunday November 16th. This will be a regional competition and mark the Official Launch Event of Special Olympics Suffolk.
Next year Special Olympics Suffolk aims to offer other sports with initial discussions and plans for swimming already underway.
In Great Britain there are an estimated 1.2 million people with an intellectual disability. When you consider families, friends and carers, the total footprint of those affected is near up to 12 million people. 200 babies will be born this week with a learning disability.
The global Special Olympics Movement was founded in 1968 when the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver (President John F. Kennedy’s sister) started a day camp for people with learning disabilities at her home in America. Today Special Olympics has a presence in nearly 200 countries with over 3 million athletes.
A group of our Special Olympics Suffolk badminton team recently met up with the Saxons Badminton squad, before a National badminton League fixture at the Ipswich Corn Exchange.
Our players got to meet Olympian and world ranked doubles player Sean Vendy, as they were presented with a signed Saxons shirt – we were then guests at the match against Manchester Badminton. Some of our athletes even got to have a hit on court with members of the Saxons squad – what an experience!
We are very grateful to Mike Tee, Anthony Clark and the Suffolk Saxons for their support for Special Olympics badminton in our county.
Special Olympics Suffolk are hosting an Active Easter Trail on Sunday March 29th around Christchurch Park, Ipswich as a social event that will also be part of their fundraising campaign towards athletes representing SO Suffolk in the National Summer Games taking place later in the year.
Participants are requested to arrive around 10.30am and the Mayor of Ipswich, Stefan Long will officially start the Trail at 11am. Trailblazers will be given a ‘passport’ which has a map of the park, a route to follow and some clues to answer along the way. There will be some sport related activities dotted along the route too. Volunteer marshals shall be posted along the route and will be cheering our participants on! Each participant will pay £5 to join the Trail and those that complete it will be given a small easter egg for taking part. It promises to be a lot of fun and the event will go ahead whatever the weather!
All are invited to join together in St Margaret’s Hall (just next to the Park) afterwards for lunch (£5 please prebook) or you are invited to bring a packed lunch (but no take-aways, please!).
We will then be joined by Gulsham Kayembe, the High Sheriff of Suffolk who will join us for tea and cake plus a raffle, our AGM and athlete presentations.
Its not too late to join us – contact Allison Boggis allisonboggis@hotmail.com to book in!
HUGE thanks to;
:)all volunteers for giving up their time to support this event
🙂 DSH Home Improvements, Jenny Leslie, Nadia and Omar Bacha and the Boggis family for donating the Easter Eggs
and
🙂 Goals, Katie’s Garden, the Rumble Family for the generous donation of raffle prizes
Special Olympics Suffolk 