The Better Club Games 2026 took place on Wednesday 21st October at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, marking the 20th anniversary of GLL’s flagship celebration of active ageing.  
 
First launched in 2006 and reinstated in 2023 following Covid, the Games bring together customers aged 60+ from across London and beyond. Participants are recruited through weekly centre programmes and proudly represent their local teams across a wide range of sports.  
 
At the heart of the Games is a simple but important purpose: helping older people remain active, connected and involved in their communities, supporting physical health and mental wellbeing while helping to tackle social isolation.  

The Greater London and Surrey games brought together teams from 23 partnerships, involving 1,187 competitors and spectators. Competition took place across 11 sports; Badminton, Short Tennis, Table Tennis, Darts, Short Mat Bowls, Timed Cycle, Dominoes, Walking Football, Walking Netball, Pickleball and Timed Swim. Walking Football, Walking Netball and Pickleball took place on 16 September. The National Senior Timed Swim competition was delivered throughout September. The remaining 7 sports took place at the Copper Box Arena.  

Participants were joined by GLL colleagues and volunteers, local authority clients, partners and invited guests, creating a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day.  
Pam Radley compered the event, and we were delighted to welcome, Peter Bundey, GLL CEO, Cheryl Baker, Celebrity Ambassador for the 20th Anniversary Club Games, Dr Hussain, attending in partnership with Age UK and Ashley Hamilton, Team England Commonwealth Games 3x3 Basketball gold medallist.  

At the Opening Ceremony, Cheryl Baker gave the opening address, supported by Ashley Hamilton. During the Closing Ceremony, Dr Hussain spoke about Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign and the importance of ageing well. Peter Bundey then addressed participants before presenting the awards alongside Cheryl Baker and Dr Hussain.  

2026 Results  

Waltham Forest took part in all 7 events at the final and in the majority were competitive as they would reach the later stages. From the cumulative points across all 11 events in the Better Club Games the top 3 were:    
1st place – Croydon  
2nd place – Waltham Forest  
3rd place – Greenwich  

Over the last 3 years Waltham Forest have overall finished, 2nd, 4th and now 2nd again which shows year on year consistency. Highlights for individual activities for Waltham Forest were 2nd in Short Tennis, 3rd in Short Mat Bowls and 3rd in Walking Football. 

Community Sport Manager, Daniel Bank, reflected on the performance; "It is a great to see how many older adults in Waltham Forest want to put themselves forward for the event and we normally need trials to select the participants as there is high demand for the experience. If anyone wants to get involved there are lots of Better With Age sessions across the borough which is where the teams are formed". That programme is attached at the bottom of this article. 

This year, as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, the Better Club Games expanded into a truly national programme, building on what began as a single London event in 2006.  The 2026 programme saw 35 partnerships across the UK submit teams and 1,886 participants and spectators engaged nationally.  
Regional Games were staged across Cambridge & Lincolnshire, Cornwall, Belfast, Reading & Oxfordshire, Cardiff, Manchester and Cumbria, alongside the dedicated Walking Sports & Pickleball Day at Lee Valley and the national Timed Swim competition.  
 
The expansion of the programme demonstrates how the Better Club Games has grown from its London roots into a nationwide celebration of active ageing, competition and community.   
 
Colin Coughtrey, National Community Engagement Manager "The Better Club Games reinforce the importance of helping people remain active, connected and involved in their communities as they get older, and the role GLL and its partners can play in making that happen. Thank you to everyone involved for making the 20th anniversary Better Club Games such an outstanding success."