Tons of fun and inclusion: Ballarat to host Special Olympics State Games

BALLARAT is gearing up for a massive weekend of sport and celebration early next month, as the host of the Special Olympics State Games.

Victoria’s premier games for people with an intellectual disability or autism, the event will give athletes an opportunity to participate in a multi-sport weekend in the hope of qualifying for a place in the state team.

More than 400 competitors will descend on multiple venues across Ballarat to compete in athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, netball, soccer and swimming.

Tennis and tenpin bowls will be played outside of Ballarat at Ringwood and Melton respectively.

While some athletes will win a place in the team to represent Victoria at the 2026 Special Olympics Australia National Games in Melbourne next year, the main focus is on fun and joy.

“You are winning by participating,” Special Olympics Victoria state chair John Elliott said.

“The wonderful thing about Special Olympics is illustrated in the athletes’ oath, which is ‘let me win, but if I can’t win, let me be brave in the attempt.’

“That’s a nice ethos to carry around and I think we can all take something out of that quote.”

Mr Elliott praised the City of Ballarat.

“The City has been tremendously accommodating in helping us get to Ballarat,” he said.

“Without them, it would have been very difficult to have these Games in Ballarat.

“The people we have been talking to in Ballarat and the sporting clubs have bent over backwards to make things happen.

“For clubs like Sebastopol Bowling Club (the venue for bocce) to give up the first week of pennant to accommodate the Special Olympics is fantastic. We are so appreciative of their support.

“I’m sure it will be a terrific weekend.”

Athletes will be drawn from 12 Special Olympics Victoria affiliated clubs from around the state, including Ballarat.

An undoubted highlight of every State Games is the opening ceremony, featuring the Law Enforcement Torch Run

Mr Elliott said upwards of 1000 people would attend the opening – 400-plus athletes in unison with their parents, guardians and support staff.

“The Law Enforcement Torch Run are a global entity, which helps Special Olympics all around the world,” he said.

“Over the history of Special Olympics, they have raised more than a billion dollars globally.

“Police in Victoria are so generous, both financially and emotionally; we wouldn’t exist without their support and our athletes adore them.

“They come in with our athletes at the start of the ceremony with the Olympic flame. They are the guardians of the flame.

“After that the athletes will go their way and play their sports.”

Elliott said all those involved with the State Games would stand in solidarity with police in the wake of the tragic deaths of two police officers and the wounding of another at Porepunkah late last month.

“It’s a tough gig, going to work every day, putting the uniform on and protecting society,” he said.

“We don’t need reminding just how hard they do it after the last couple of weeks.”

The schedule of events includes:

Athletics: 4 October , Llanberris Reserve, 11am-5pm.

Basketball: 4-5 October, Selkirk Stadium, 11am-5pm and 9am-3pm.

Bocce: 4-5 October, Sebastopol Bowling Club 11am-5pm and 9am-3pm.

Golf: 3 October, Ballarat Golf Club, 12.30pm-5pm.

Gymnastics: 5 October, Ballarat Gym Sports, 8am-noon.

Netball: 4 October, Selkirk Stadium, 11am-3pm.

Soccer: 4 October, Victoria Park, 11am-4pm.

Swimming: 4-5 October, Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre, 11am-5pm and 9am-noon.

Table Tennis: 5 October, Selkirk Stadium, 10am-2pm.