Curo are proud to announce they are an Official Games Supporter for the 2013 Special Olympics GB 2013 being held in Bath.
Held in venues across Bath & Bristol from 28th August to 1st September, and recognised by the International Olympic Committee, the Special Olympics is the largest disability sports organisation in the world for people with intellectual disabilities of all ages & abilities.
As a Bath based company, Curo are keen to support the event, and want it to create local legacies which will enable people with intellectual disabilities to participate and compete in sporting activities in the region over the next few years.
Curo are using their fleet of vans to promote the Special Olympics. Many vans will have branding across the back advertising the Games and one special van has been given a complete new look, incorporating the SOGB branding and the slogan “100 vans, 1 big smile”. CEO of SOGB 13, Karen Wallin, will be in Bath on Tuesday 23rd July to launch the van.
Curo are asking anyone who sees the van out and about to take a photo and tweet it using the hashtag #curovan; all entrants will be entered into a draw to win the opportunity to be a medal giver at the Games.
As well as an annual event, SOGB deliver a community based, year-round programme. This provides vital opportunities for integration, not only in terms of sport but also of health, wellbeing, education and social inclusion. A key part of this is the development of sports legacies.
The aim of the legacies is to create sustainable groups and sports activities across the region for children and adults of all abilities with intellectual disabilities – creating opportunities to get involved, gain skills and widen social networks as well as to compete and grow self-esteem.
1.2 million children and adults in Great Britain have intellectual disabilities. It’s the most common disability in the UK and it’s predicted to grow by 14% by 2021.
Currently only 100 athletes compete in 3 Special Olympics groups in the whole of the South West and nothing is available in the Bath or Bristol area. However this is unrepresentative of the estimated 104,800 people with intellectual disabilities in the South West area (20,500 of which are school age) with nearly 3,600 in BANES alone (580 of which are school age).
The Legacy Committee have been has been formed from expert regional representatives to ensure the maximum effect is achieved from the funding generated. These comprise local businesses, education, local authority sports development, English Federation of Disability Sports (EFDS), voluntary organisations (i.e. Mencap & Lions) together with The University of Bath who are hosting most of the Games.
The Legacies aim to initiate new clubs, fund spaces and sports coaches and encourage competition between individuals and teams, all of which are designed to transform people’s lives and be sustainable for future generations.