Olympic Theme to RHS Oputa Games 2012
The RHS Optua Games for people with disabilities will be held on Thursday 28 June at the Royal Hospital School and this year's event has an offical London 2012 Inspire Mark.
Around 160 disabled people will be taking part in the 10th RHS Optua Games along with hundreds of pupils from the school who will be supporting them to enjoy the games. The RHS Optua Games is organised every year by Suffolk-based disability charity Optua together with the Royal Hospital School’s Community Action Team.
This year’s event has a Olympic and Paralympic theme and has been awarded an official London 2012 Inspire Mark. This is the third of Optua’s 2012 events to receive an Inspire Mark and it is the only organisation in the country to receive more than one disability sport related Inspire Mark.
16 teams of people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities will compete in a series of fun outdoor events, such as throwing and ball games. Most of the teams represent special schools or community resource units and the winning team will be awarded with a trophy.
As well as giving people with disabilities a great day out and a chance to work as a team, the School’s pupils also gain a great deal from helping out on the day and get experience of volunteering and working with people with disabilities. Optua always provides disability awareness training to the pupils who will be involved before the event itself.
This year’s RHS Optua Games has been funded by the Suffolk Foundation Port Community Fund, PJK Charitable Trust, Blakemore Foundation, Seckford Foundation, Yorkshire Building Society and Avenues Sport and Lifestyles Fund.
Graham Watson, director of The Seckford Foundation, said: “The Seckford Foundation is committed to assisting with local community projects such the RHS Optua Games, which is a great example of how projects like this can help empower more members of our community and help them to achieve their goals.”
Individuals or teams can still register for the event. For more information call 01473 836770 or go to www.optua.org.uk 
Before the event, Year 11 pupils and Sixth Fomers who will run the games and buddy the teams undergo disability awareness training with Optua staff.
