Calling Over 60s, compete for Team Hackney at Club Games!
Billed as the ‘Older Persons’ Olympics’, the annual ‘Better’ Club Games is a fantastic fixture where teams of older people from leisure centres in London, the south-east, and the Midlands come together to compete in a variety of indoor sports including bowls, swimming, short tennis, darts, static cycling and dominoes.
The event takes place this year on Wednesday 1 October at Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London so there’s still time to sign up if you fancy flexing your competitive muscles.
You don’t have be world-class at any of the activities to join in - just reasonably good and willing to try your best and have fun. You have until 19 September to sign up.
Club Games welcomes a different celebrity ‘ambassador’ each year to launch the proceedings, present the awards and boost morale. Previous incumbents have included the late dancer and TV star Lionel Blair, ‘Allo Allo’ actress Vicki Michelle, Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard and swimmer Duncan Goodhew.
In 2024, actor and TV personality Christopher Biggins proved a great hit with the crowds. This year, actress Su Pollard of ‘Hi-de-Hi’ fame will be cheering on the contestants, fresh from touring her one-woman show.
Su comments, "I'm so excited to be joining the ‘Better’ Club Games this year and showing the world that older people can keep fit and enjoy 'Hi-de-Hi' jinks as much as the youngsters!"
Twenty teams competed last year but more entries are expected in 2025. Last year Team Hackney finished in 5th place and this year we are aiming to break the top three. We are particularly in need of competitiors in the following sports:
- Pickleball
- Short Tennis
- Darts
Allie Nelkon, Community Sports Manager in Hackney, explains "Club Games is a fantastic event, demonstrating that you are never too old to have some competitive fun. It's so great to see our residents taking part and smiling whilst doing it. The event is a great occasion to meet new people and represent your local area. This is a great day out, so if you are reasonably sporty (and a tad competitive) why not join team Hackney on the 1st October?”