The District Disability Games were held at Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, on Sunday 22nd April 2007, with a snooker centre and school hall being used as venues for snooker and bowls. The Games were organised by a committee chaired by Rtn Graham Horrell (RC Cleethorpes), and representatives of the 8 Rotary Clubs of Alford & Mablethorpe, Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Grimsby St. James, Grimsby Havelok, Immingham, Louth, and Market Rasen.
Amazing support was also provided by North East Lincolnshire Council Sports Development officers and the Leisure Centre Staff.
The Games had two main sponsors; Total Lindsey Oil Refinery & NELC. Advertising, sponsorship and donations were also received from other local businesses and Rotarians across the District, raising a total value of nearly £7,000. The Games will be staged again on 20th April 2008 in Cleethorpes, and will then move to another part of District for another two years.
Specialist sport support was provided by some local clubs, including Grimsby Santa Marina Swimming Club, Grimsby Archers, Disability Sports Forum and Disability Table Tennis League.
In possibly the biggest District Games to date, approximately 370 competitors of all ages with varying degrees of disability, as members of 15 teams, took part in 11 events over a hectic 9 hours, culminating in a trophy ceremony attended by District Governor Rolf Sperr, and The Mayor and other representatives of North East Lincolnshire Council. There were smiles all round as trophies were awarded to the winners and runners-up in each event and age category, and every single competitor received a medal. Every competitor took part in two events, and some in three, with age and gender grouping for some of the events; equivalent to nearly 1,000 different entries.
The ladies of Inner Wheel helped bag and distribute over 500 lunch packs which were provided free of charge to the competitors and their carers.
The Games provide an opportunity for competitors to socialise, compete, and achieve individual goals in a fun and supportive atmosphere, and are surely one of the best days of community action in Rotary. The fun, fellowship and rewards are immense, and there are far too many Rotarians to thank personally for making this such a success. Two clubs donated their coach and driver for the day to help with the inter-venue transport, and at least two clubs had over 50% of their members in attendance.
Sports included are Archery, Boccia, Bowls, Darts, Rifle Shooting, Snooker, Swimming, Table Tennis, Weight Lifting, Wheelchair Slalom and Wheelchair Dash.
The winners go on to represent the District at the National Games in Coventry in November.
This was Rotary at its very best.
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