Massive congratulations to Jack, Grace and Simon from Waveney Gymnastics Club in Lowestoft and Special Olympics Suffolk who smashed all of their disciplines in the finals of the gymnastics competition yesterday. Jack and Grace were overall winners gaining Gold medals a-piece and Simon came second overall gaining Silver. In addition, all gymnasts came away with a clutch of medals from each discipline – massive congratulations to the dynamic trio who represented both Great Britain and Suffolk in Berlin. All three were impeccable in their sportsmanship at the games and we are all very proud of them!

SOGB coaches Ellen and Alex (also from Special Olympics Suffolk and Waveney Gymnastics Club) supported the team throughout and were delighted at the team and individual performances. Huge thanks to both for their devotion, passion and dedication to the sport and the gymnasts.

Special Olympics Suffolk were invited by Special Olympics Norwich for a local derby on 14^th May 2023 at the UEA sports complex.

Everyone had a great day and were happy to meet old friends from past events. 

This email has been sent to all Special Olympics GB members   

Hi everyone, 

Hoping this reaches you very well. 

As you may be aware, following the launch of our 2021 strategy Inclusion in Action, we introduced new Working Groups as a way to ensure our membership voice is heard across all key areas of the organisation.  

Our Network Structure Working Group launched at the end of 2022 has been working on building a plan for how we evolve and innovate our structure and foundations.  

Now, we are very pleased to announce the launch of the first stage of research for the Special Olympics GB Network Structure Working group: 

Network Structure Survey  

supported by Corporate Partner TwoCircles 

Click HERE to access the online survey. 

WATCH the video (below) describing the objectives of this consultation and how we plan on using your valuable insights.

You can also click HERE (scroll to Network Structure Survey Toolkit) to access our Survey Toolkit, which includes:

• the survey link
• the survey brief (plus an Easy-Read version)
• a FAQ document
• glossary and guidance
• a printable QR code.

By completing our survey, you will be in the chance of winning: 

1. England replica shirt signed by Special Olympics GB Principal Ambassador Jack Grealish
2. £25 Amazon Voucher (5 AVAILABLE) 

The winners will be selected at random from completed entries.  

The survey should take about 10-15 minutes and does have to completed in one sitting. 

The survey closes on Friday 30^th June, so get going! 

Be in touch with us if you have any questions. 

Many thanks, 

Emma & Network Structure Working Group

Our fabulous gymnasts from Special Olympics Suffolk will head off to the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin from Waveney Gymnastics Club very soon. As you can see, they are all kitted out and proud to be representing Great Britain.

We will be updating you on their progress every step of the way!

The Special Olympics World Games in Berlin are only a few weeks away and gymnasts Jack, Grace and Simon, and coaches Alex and Ellen from Waveney Gymnastics club in Lowestoft are making their final preparations to compete and coach alongside the very best of the world and at the highest level of international sport. At Special Olympics Suffolk, we couldn’t be more proud of them as they represent their clubs, the County and their Country. We wish them the very best of luck and can’t wait to hear how they enjoyed the experience on their return!

Special Olympics Great Britain will be sending a team of around 150 athletes, coaches and support staff to the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 which runs from June 17-23 and features more than 7,000 athletes from 190 countries. Jack, Grace and Simon make up over half of the British gymnastics squad which is a fantastic tribute to Waveney Gymnastics club who are recognized as one of the best in the country for supporting athletes with disabilities.

Also travelling to Berlin are Mike McCarthy, ActiveSport Development Officer and Head Coach of Special Olympic Suffolk’s Badminton and Boccia teams. Mike is experienced in organizing and running local and regional inclusive events in both sports and will be officiating at the badminton as a competition management volunteer. He is very much looking forward to “the opportunity to be involved with an event like the Special Olympics World Games. It looks and sounds like it will be a very special experience. This global event is the culmination of a -year cycle of weekly inclusive sports activity that is provided in clubs and groups all around the world, including what we offer right here in Suffolk”.

Edward Boggis and his Personal Assistant Lizzie Reid are looking forward to volunteering at the World Games in June. “It was a pretty stiff application process” explained Lizzie “but we got through it and are delighted to have been accepted as volunteers for the Badminton event. We have been asked to volunteer for five days of competition. Our duties will be meeting and greeting competitors and spectators and directing them to their events. We have both completed the necessary online training and are ready to go!”     The Special Olympics World Games prides itself as being fully and actively inclusive, so disabled people are encouraged to join the ranks of event volunteers. Ed has Down’s syndrome, is a member of Special Olympics Suffolk and will be supported by Lizzie and family members to make the trip and to volunteer. A keen badminton player himself, Ed is “excited about going to the games and helping out at the competition”.

We join together at Special Olympics Suffolk to wish our gymnasts, the coaches and the volunteers the very best of luck!

If you or someone you know are also making the trip to Berlin in connection with the Special Olympics World Games, please let us know!

Suffolk badminton players flew the county flag at the Para-Badminton tournament held recently in Gillingham, Kent. Six players from Special Olympics Suffolk/ActivLives, competed in the singles and doubles events, producing some excellent performances throughout the day. The tournament, which was organised by Kent Badminton, included players from around the country with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities. Suffolk players managed to bring home a haul of medals, including five gold, three silver and three bronze.

Well done to all involved – you continue to do Suffolk proud!

Special Olympics Suffolk delivery partner, ActivLives, hosted a Boccia England ‘Boccia Leaders’ Course recently in Ipswich, as part of their work to help promote inclusive sport in Suffolk. The course attracted 17 delegates from a wide variety of local organisations including Papworth Trust, Suffolk New College, Special Olympics Suffolk, Special Olympics Norfolk, Suffolk Sight, Ipswich Hospital and Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy.

The course is designed to enable delegates to feel more confident in the delivery of boccia sessions in the community, and included basic playing techniques, rules, refereeing and ways of adapting the game for different participants and groups.

“It was a busy afternoon, but really useful in increasing my boccia knowledge and helping me to develop my leadership skills”, said one of the course delegates.

If you would like to find out more about how to get involved with boccia in Suffolk, please contact mike@activlives.org.uk or call on 01473 345350. 

Special Olympics Suffolk delivery partner, ActivLives, held a very successful Inclusive Badminton Tournament recently at Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich, with 30 athletes competing in the singles and doubles competitions.

The standard of play throughout the day was superb, with some extremely close matches deciding the final medal placings, across all of the divisions.

In addition to the 20 Suffolk-based athletes, there were 10 competitors from Inclusive groups in Wimbledon (Anders Disability Badminton) and Southampton. The event concluded with a very exciting Team Relay competition, involving all of the competitors.  

“We have had some lovely feedback from the players and families, as a result of this event. Everyone has commented upon the great team of volunteers who made the day happen. All of the people delivering this event have volunteered their time and expertise – they are absolutely brilliant”, said Mike McCarthy from ActivLives.

Allison Boggis, Chair of Special Olympics Suffolk, who helped to present medals to the winning athletes, reflected on the event, “I was incredibly impressed by the standard of competition, sportsmanship and enthusiasm demonstrated by all of the players throughout the day”.

ActivLives are very grateful to everyone who continues to support these events including Special Olympics Suffolk, Special Olympics GB and Ipswich Borough Council.

If you would like to find out more about inclusive badminton with ActivLives, call on 01473 345350 or email mike@activlives.org.uk 

Special Olympics Suffolk delivery partner, ActivLives, recently held a Boccia Festival at Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich. The event attracted 40 competitors from across Suffolk, competing for the medals in the team event. All of the players who took part, have an intellectual, physical and/or sensory disability, and most already play boccia with ActivLives, on a regular basis.

Boccia (pronounced ‘botcha’), is a target sport played with soft balls, propelled towards a jack. The game is played seated, and has been a Paralympic sport since 1984. It is also one of the many sports offered by Special Olympics groups and clubs, around the UK.  

Paralympian, Evie Edwards, a member of the GB Boccia team in Tokyo in 2021, who now coaches the sport, was one of the many brilliant volunteers who made this Suffolk event happen.

Mike McCarthy, ActivSport Development Officer at ActivLives, said “We are absolutely delighted by the number of players who have competed, and by the quality of boccia that was played across all of the groups. The buzz in the hall, throughout the day, has been brilliant”.

If you are interested in finding out more about boccia, or any of the other inclusive sports on offer with ActivLives, please call the office on 01473 345350, email mike@activlives.org.uk  or visit our website at www.activlives.org.uk