By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A little club in Geelong is keeping a gold medal dream alive for athletes with a disability.
Despite its small size, Geelong Boccia Club has two athletes, Danny Byrne and Tyler Ellis, already nominated for the squad for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
President Julie Morton said other club members had participated at national level.
“There’s little opportunity for people with disabilities to participate in a sport recognised at Paralympic level in Geelong,” Julie said.
“There are lots of programs and activities, but this a serious mainstream sport and requires a level of professionalism in athletes that members enjoy.
“It enables them to have a go and they are treated as serious athletes with pathways to national and international competition.”
Boccia is a game based upon the game bocce, specifically designed for people with a disability.
Julie said the club recently won a grant from VicHealth to help it buy extra equipment to increase player capacity.
“There are many benefits of the game, including strong physiological and psychological benefits like socialisation and forming friendships,” Julie said.
“Many players have cerebral palsy and a game requiring a high level of co-ordination is really good for the management of that condition.
“We just want to get the message out so more people with a disability in Geelong can have an opportunity to play.”
Geelong Boccia Club trains weekly at the Geelong Basketball Netball Centre. Contact Julie on 0439 979 636, email bocciageelong@outlook.com or check the club’s Facebook page Boccia Geelong.
