By Justin Flynn
Solve-TAD’s award-winning Inclusive Community Sports Program is coming back to Geelong next week and is the perfect school holiday activity for the entire family.
The Inclusive Community Sport Day is a free event and is aimed at bringing awareness to the sporting possibilities that exist for individuals living with disability.
Solve-TAD brings together local sporting clubs and works together with the individual and club, to make sports more inclusive and accessible.
“We invite the whole family to come along,” recreation development coordinator Tim Marchinton said.
“They can come along to this stadium and for that three hours there’s all different sports to try.
“It’s really great for me to see families meet other families. The best compliment we’ve ever had is a parent who told us ‘that is the first time my son has been welcomed and included’.”
Sports on offer include badminton, wheelchair rugby, archery, pickleball, boccia, lawn bowls, 10-pin bowling and soccer.
Specially modified bikes will be available.
“We have an ethos that everyone should ride a bike,” Mr Marchinton said.
“My wish for the day is for people to come along, have a bit of fun together and try something new.
“There’s a lot of warm fuzzies on the day. People can be a little unsure and leave smiling.”
Mr Marchinton said participants won’t be the only ones to have fun and that the kids are encouraged to just be themselves.
“We try and engage parents and siblings to get involved,” he said.
The free event is at Barwon Valley Activity Centre in Belmont on Monday July 4 from noon to 3pm.
Go to eventbrite.com.au/e/inclusive-community-sports-day-barwon-tickets-166012801759 to book.
