Club Games
The Better Club Games take place at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and the Copper Box Arena on the Olympic Park in Stratford. Here’s everything you need to know about this fun-filled, fantastic event for our senior members and customers.
What's it all about?
Since its inception in 2006, the Better Club Games has become a major annual event across Better leisure centres. The two-day fun-filled, sociable but competitive event brings together our senior members and customers aged 60 and above, to represent their local Better leisure centres; battling it out against other boroughs across London, for the much-coveted Club Games trophy.
It’s a great opportunity to socialise and have fun, while being cheered on by our centre teams as well as the Club Games celebrity ambassador. 2025 saw Su Pollard take on this prestigious position, which he fully embraced, cheering teams on and having a go at some of the activities himself. Other past ambassadors include Christopher Biggins, Vicki Michelle, Anthony Joshua, Beverley Callard, Duncan Goodhew, Fatima Whitbread and the late Lionel Blair, to mention a few. The events themselves can be quite competitive but still fun, friendly but it is the taking part that counts and everyone goes home with a medal!
The current Better Club Games champions
Team Croydon succeeded in lifting the trophy, with Team Hackney in second and Team Greenwich in third. Could your team take their crown in 2026?
Here’s the full list of teams that took part in 2025 but next year we hoping to see a few more teams competing:
| 1 | Croydon | 11 | Reigate & Banstead |
| 2 | Hackney | 12 | Islington |
| 3 | Greenwich | 13 | Barnet |
| 4 | Waltham Forest | 14 | Kensington & Chelsea |
| 5 | Mole Valley | 15 | Lewisham |
| 6 | Enfield | 16 | Ealing |
| 7 | Merton | 17 | Rugby |
| 8 | Camden | 18 | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| 9 | Hillingdon | 19 | Newham |
| 10 | Sutton | 20 | Welwyn Hatfield |
How did Club Games come about?
Our corporate mission is to improve health and wellbeing as a key community service through physical activity and sport.
Competitors are drawn from Active Ageing Clubs across the Better leisure centres.
Active ageing is a major public health priority as it promotes physical health, mental health and helping reduce social isolation in the UK’s older population. In addition, keeping active reduces the burden on the NHS. The ethos of the games is for older people to come together in a social and friendly environment, play competitive sport and encourage them to be active in later life.
The 2026 event will be the 20th anniversary of the Better Club Games.
Getting set up for your first Club Games
If you’re aged 60 or above and interested in getting involved for the first time, simply pop into your local Better leisure centre and speak to a member of our team who will put you in touch with the Club Games lead for your area. They will answer any questions you may have and discuss which activity you may like to take part in. They will also set up introductions so you can meet other participants in your team before the event.
Alternatively, you can drop an email to this address and we’ll get a member of the team to contact you. More information will be provided including the rules for the activity you choose to take part in and the programme for the day.
Cheer on your team! Supporters welcome!
Even if you don’t want to take part in the events, we would still love you to come along and cheer on your local team. If you wish to spectate there will be an entry fee of £2.00 to each venue to watch a full day of activities.
It’s a brilliant event, but don’t just take our word for it, here’s what some of our 2025 participants had to say about it.
We’re looking forward to the 2026 Better Club Games and hope to see you there.