The 2022 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival is celebrating Melbourne’s diversity and encouraging people of all abilities to get active on Friday 2 December from 10am to 2pm at Crown Riverwalk.

Commemorating International Day of People with Disability, the Festival is challenging stigmas and offering Victorians with and without disability the opportunity to explore and experience accessible and inclusive sport and recreation with fun hands-on activities.

With three activity zones and around 30 exhibitors, including renowned sporting organisations such as Gymnastics Victoria, Tennis Victoria, AFL Victoria, Cricket Victoria, Bowls Victoria and Football Victoria, attendees are bound to have a ball.

Inspiring people from all life experiences to get involved within their community and discover the excitement of inclusive and modified sports, the Festival promotes the message that sports should be for all to enjoy.

“Sport is an extremely important part of Australia’s culture, but there is a tendency for people with disability to be barred from this great part of community. By creating more variety and better access of sports to people with disabilities, we aim to allow everyone to be included.”, said Liz Tesone, CEO of Disability Sport and Recreation.

“Sport is something that should bring us together, not make us feel alienated. We hope that this festival will help to encourage Victorians with disability to find a sport that they love so that we can all share in the benefits being physically active.”

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A highlight of the program, the Law Enforcement Torch Run will see more than 100 police and Special Olympics athletes running from the Victoria Police Centre to the festival site. At the run’s finish point, The Flame of Hope, carried by the runners, will light the cauldron in a moving display of solidarity for Victorian Disability Sport.

Other perks include meeting sport stars from AFL, Test Cricket, Super Rugby, Lawn Bowls and Golf and other Paralympians and ambassadors. Attendees can also tune into Vision Australia’s exciting live broadcast of the day.

Activities on the day include the annual AFL Wheelchair Corporate Challenge, DJ Coop + Vivacious, Rugby with Melbourne Rebels Blind Cricket players.

A complete list of exhibitors and activities that will be present on the day can be found here: https://www.dsr.org.au/vdsr-festival-activity-zone

Come and have a sporting good time by getting active for International Day of People with Disability!

For more information, please visit:

https://www.dsr.org.au/vdsr-festival

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