More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the 8th National Summer Special Olympics GB Games, due to be held in Leicester in July 2009. Almost 3,000 athletes with learning disabilities will compete in 21 sports at venues across the city and in other parts of Rutland; supporting them will be more than 1,000 coaches and around 6,000 family members.

 

The event will begin with a grand opening ceremony at Walkers Stadium in Leicester, and will run from 25th - 31st July 2009. Sports at the event will include basketball, table tennis, swimming, golf, football, sailing and athletics.

 

Meanwhile, nearly 100 disabled athletes from across the UK descended on Crewe recently for the Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) National Table Tennis competition. The two day event in the town's Coppenhall Leisure Centre saw athletes compete for 50 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. It was supported by National Grid, SOGB's official partner. Special Olympics is a community driven programme of local clubs, and events open to anyone with a learning disability.