Bury St Edmunds to host Suffolk Community Games as part of the Festival of Suffolk
A town leisure centre and school is set to host hundreds of school children and their families for the Suffolk Community Games.
The games, which will see participants take part in sports and activities, will take place at the leisure centre and King Edward VI School facilities in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday, July 9.
The day is part of the Festival of Suffolk which is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
David Sheepshanks, one of the directors at the Festival of Suffolk and the chair of the organising committee, said: "The Suffolk Community Games promises to be a very special day in our calendar with plenty of sporting activities for all family members attending to enjoy watching and more importantly, to have a go at trying.
"Putting the event on is a huge team effort and we are enormously grateful to all those involved, however none more so than Active Suffolk, who have generously taken the lead in helping us to organise the day.
"As much as a fun day, we also want young people from all backgrounds across the whole county, who do not normally get the chance to participate in such sports and events, to come and 'give it a go' and have a day to remember."
The day will include activities such as skateboarding, football and paddle boarding. The event will also host the Special Olympics Suffolk Athletics Competition, part of the Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Series of Sport which offers athletes with an intellectual disability to perform in front of the wider Suffolk community.
James Payne, senior development officer at Active Suffolk said: "The Suffolk Community Games is set to be an incredibly fun day and Active Suffolk are excited to be playing a lead role in organising such a prestigious event.
"The event will allow children from all backgrounds across the county to try sports and activities that they may not ordinarily get the opportunity to do. We want the Suffolk Community Games to open new doors for young people and their families, whilst also encouraging them to find confidence, passion and enthusiasm for movement, physical activity, and sport in their everyday lives."
Cllr Jo Rayner, cabinet member for Leisure and Heritage at West Suffolk Council, added: "I hope very much that young people who don’t usually have a chance to do these activities come along to this high profile, multi-sport event and have a wonderful time.
"It will be a fantastic day, with all kinds of experiences, laughs and achievements, and everyone is welcome, whatever your physical ability."
