AN ANNUAL sporting competition for disabled people in Basingstoke and beyond has been cancelled for the first time ever due to a lack of funding.

The Disport Games usually takes place every year for the past four decades and give disabled people the opportunity to participate in competitive events such as bowling, darts, beanbag throwing, dominoes, and others.

However, due to a lack of funding to reach the £1,400 costs, this year’s event has been cancelled, to the huge disappointment of the organisers and teams due to take part.

Julian Thomas, the organiser of the event who is partially sighted, said: “It’s definitely disappointing that it can’t go ahead this year, all the clubs that take part are disappointed as well.

“It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped, it is just one of those things. Even though we are not able to run the games this year, we are aiming to make it bigger and better for next year.”

The games have been running for around 40 years and this is the first time that one has not taken place.

To run the games, the organisers need to raise around £1,400, which they have been unable to do this year, despite a donation of £500 from the Basingstoke Lions Club.

There are usually between eight to ten teams who take part in the competition, usually held at Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College.

The event often attracts entrants from across the south.

The games are supported by the Basingstoke Lions Club and the Loddon Valley Lions Club, as well as the Rotary.

The Lions Clubs supports the event by helping to man and referee individual games, and the Rotary would help by bringing drinks and food.

Philip Wilson, media officer at Basingstoke Lions Club, said: “Normally, around one hundred people take part in as many games as they can manage until they are knocked out of the competition. At the end of the day, there is a winner for each of the events and an overall winner, with all the categories being fiercely contested.”

The organisers are on the lookout for sponsors who might be able to help raise the money to hold The Disport Games in future and for people to volunteer to help run games at the event.

To get involved, either via sponsoring or volunteering, contact Mr Thomas on jules.thomas@ntlworld.com or call 07590 430 082.