Players in badminton who have trouble learning get together
Players in badminton who have trouble learning get together: Special Olympics GB was able to hold a full-scale competition for the first time in almost two and a half years. The Special Olympics GB Summer Series of Sport was the most significant event for people with intellectual disabilities in Great Britain.
About 84 players, including 11 from Special Olympics Sandwell, went to the competition at the WJ Sports Center in Walsall over the weekend. People from all over the country competed, and 48 of them were from the West Midlands. They came from Sandwell, Shropshire, Birmingham, North Staffordshire, and Sutton Coldfield.
Norma Hyde’s Statement
Chair of Special Olympics Sandwell Norma Hyde said, “We all belong to the West Midlands group, and it was great that we all wore the same kit. All the teams had their own music to come out to, we came out to ‘We Will Rock You’. It was picked by the players and got the spectators going.”
Because of the pandemic, many of the players haven’t been able to play in two years.
“We were cancelled last year for our week-long special Olympics, which we hold in a university town or city,” Norma said.
“It’s canceled Liverpool 2021, this is some players’ first full badminton game since the pandemic. Events like this are so important, they train hard and do their best with the skills they have learned. But importantly, everybody can have a go regardless of how skilled they are.”
“They play against someone of a similar level and they all get to play the same number of games. It is wonderful to watch, they are so pleased to be back, and on the social side of it, they become so confident as they improve.”
More about the event
The first event like this took place in 1990, with only a few people taking part. In 2022, 84 people showed up to fight it out. The Special Olympics GB Summer Series takes place across Great Britain from June to September 2022. There will be competitions in at least 12 sports, such as athletics, swimming, and basketball.
Norma said: “It is something that was very missed during the pandemic, some people were very lonely over that period which affected mental health issues, so it is great to be reunited at long last. They are really proud to be part of their team and doing their best. It is real sport, people who come to watch are often surprised just how good they are.”