The Other Sports Day celebrates 20th anniversary with record number of participants (Balen)

The Other Sports Day in Balen is a regional sports day for people with a mental disability where participants can enjoy themselves at their own level with various sports. Every year, students from a Balen primary school also participate to promote integration. This year it was the turn of the two sixth grades of free primary school Klavertje 4 from Olmen.

“It is great fun to play sports with the guests of the day centers”, say students Simon and Tobe”. “We just played netball and drove the go-carts. Hopefully it won’t rain too much, so we can still exercise with our group.

Jakke, Bram and Stijn from day center De Schakel from Balen have just completed a game of netball. “We are having a great time on this sports day, because sports are fun,” says Bram. “We have really been looking forward to this, especially since it has not been possible for several years. We really missed this sports day. The weather is a bit less, but the most important thing is that we have fun.”

The participants of The Other Sports Day are offered a whole series of adapted and fascinating sports activities during the day’s programme. For example, the most active outdoor participants could play archery, football, go-cart riding, netball and hockey. Inside, the program included black light dance, badminton, cuddly jujutsu and a range of sports academy games. Various volunteers and Balense sports clubs are also committed to providing the participants with a great sports day.

For example, participant Franky from Westerlo plays along with a game of badminton. “I always find this sports day very cool,” he says. “I also like sports very much. I regularly go cycling and I also like to play football.”

This year ten day centers from the region participated: De Schakel from Balen, De Rusthuif and De Villa from Arendonk, De Vogelzang from Laakdal, Den Brand from Mol, the Eepos and MPI Oosterlo from Geel, Muylenberg-Perelaar from Retie, Marksaam from Merksplas and Berkenhof from Leopoldsburg.

“This year, 190 athletes from the day centers and 26 students from Klavertje 4 are participating,” says Kelly Geudens of the Balense sports department. “That is a record turnout, because on average we have around 150 participants from the day centers. But of course everyone has been looking forward to this. Due to corona, The Other Sports Day could not take place for three years. As a result, the birthday has also been pushed back every time. But that’s why we want to make it a party today. This is how we close the sports day with a surprise act for participants and supervisors.”

The Other Sports Day is an initiative of Sportregio Zuiderkempen in collaboration with the sports department, the Sports Council and the Disability Council of Balen, Mispo and Sport Vlaanderen.

(Tommy Maes )