The winning team of the 2018 Better Club Games from Shankill Leisure Centre.
Social enterprise GLL is on the lookout for people aged over 55 to take part in its 2019 Club Games competition.
The annual games were established as part of GLL’s commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities by helping tackle loneliness and isolation among older people and encouraging people to move more, get active and make new friends.
GLL runs all of Belfast’s leisure centres in partnership with Belfast City Council and is using this year’s event as an opportunity to also raise money for Cancer Research UK. The competition is now entering its fourth year and the hope is that this one will be its biggest yet.
Club Games is looking for teams of people aged over 55, to participate in its competition on Friday 25th October at Girdwood Hub in Belfast. The closing date for entries is Friday 11th October 2019.
The sports that participants will compete in are:
Badminton
Boccia
Table Tennis
Bowls
Walking Basketball
Cycling
Dander Ball
Ronan McKenna, Regional Community Sports Manager said:
“Club Games is one of our key events and is getting bigger and more competitive ever year. Last year 11 teams took part from leisure centres across the city and there was some serious competition for the winning team.
“The games started as part of our commitment to improving health and wellbeing in the communities in which we work. One of the areas we wanted to focus on was those people aged over 55, who might feel lonely or isolated.
“The games are also a way of breaking down barriers that often stop older people using their local leisure centres and to show them off as a real community hub.
“We hope to encourage a few more teams to enter this year and we would also urge individuals to enter because we can also set them up with a team.”
Harry Larkin, a previous participant of last year’s Club Games said:
“I’ve become a regular member of Shankill leisure centre and find that it really helps in keeping me active and fit for my grandkids!
“The Club Games are brilliant craic and the competition is fierce for the top spot. Our own team would welcome any new participant who wants to take part.”
Anyone who would like to participate in this year’s Club Games should contact Martin Brownlee at Girdwood Hub on 028 9521 7870, before 5pm on Friday 11 October.