Nearly 200 athletes from across the West Midlands competed in the North Staffordshire Special Olympics Regional Athletics Competition last weekend
The event took place on Saturday 17 July at Northwood Stadium, and featured some of the best Special Olympians from across the region as they competed in athletic disciplines including sprinting, 100m, 200m, 300m, pentathlon, long jump, softball throw and shot-put. There were 45 athletes representing the North Staffordshire group in the competition.
The North Staffordshire Special Olympics sporting programme includes athletics, basketball, badminton, kayaking, swimming and football.
The Staffordshire group’s aim is to provide year round sports training and competition for people with learning disabilities, giving them the chance to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and participate in sharing of skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
The event is free to attend, with guests of honour including Lord Mayor Councillor Denver Tolley and the Lady Mayoress, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Sir James Hawley, representatives from Staffordshire Fire Service and Staffordshire Police, Robert Flello MP, Tristram Hunt MP, and the city council’s cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Leisure and Culture Hazel Lyth.
Councillor Lyth said: “We are so proud that Northwood can host this event and that we are able to offer all the athletes a first class facility for them to use.
“It’s important to recognise the contribution sport makes in the community as a way of bringing people together and encouraging them to stay fit and healthy.
“The Special Olympics group do a tremendous amount of hard work to allow people to experience sport in a positive way, learn new skills and build their confidence. The fact that athletes are coming from all over the West Midlands to compete shows that Stoke-on-Trent is a key part of supporting that success.