Skip to content.

The national charity and leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity

Menu. Open and close this menu with the ENTER key.

400 young disabled people enjoy Autumn Ability Games success

The Devon Autumn Ability Games (DAAG) held on Wednesday 16 October is being celebrated as a great success for the 5th year running for North Devon. Young disabled people from schools throughout Devon were provided with the opportunity to participate in competitions spanning six different sports.

The event is part of the Sainsbury School Games and saw over 400 students from 20 schools across North Devon take part. In addition, over 60 young people from local schools and colleges took part in helping to support the day by acting as Games Maker style volunteers.

The Games were kicked of by an inspirational opening address from Devon’s David Hill, a former Paralympic swimmer and now international Para-triathlete. David Hill said:

"I was privileged to attend what was a fantastic mini-Olympic style event organised by Active Devon. After being an athlete for 12 years I'm passionate about encouraging others to be the best that they can be, and to see the students getting active and enjoying sport was great. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many of the students that attended the day in their own respective schools through other projects with sport as the vehicle to teach life skills. So to see them having a fantastic time by taking part in sport at this event was an excellent way to build on the sport activity in the region whilst developing the confidence and interaction of the young volunteers”.

The students took part in a range of sports including football, wheelchair basketball, archery, swimming, table cricket and rowing. Paralympic style medal ceremonies were held for each sport.

Richard Slaney, Leisure and Recreation Officer at North Devon Council, said:

"This year was definitely the best Ability Games we've ever seen - congratulations to everyone who took part and thank you to Active Devon and all the volunteers who made this event happen. With more competitors this year than ever before, Tarka Tennis Centre was full to the brim with young people enjoying sport. We recently updated the NDC Leisure and Health Strategy to ensure we recognise the importance of events just like this one. It's great to see that Active Devon are building on the success of the 2012 Paralympics and inspiring the next generation at a local level”.

The Devon Autumn Ability Games is part of a programme of five Countywide Sainsbury’s School Games festivals in Devon and was delivered by Active Devon on behalf of the Devon School Games Local Organising Committee.

Matt Evans, Local Organising Committee member and Chief Executive of Active Devon, said:

"It was fantastic to see so many young people enjoying the benefits of taking part in sport and all of us at Active Devon are thrilled to be able to support such an inspiring event. The commitment of the many young volunteers involved is a real sign that the legacy of 2012 is alive in Devon and the future for our local sport is bright."

More information about the School Games is available on the Active Devon website and on the Sainsbury’s School games website