Gearing up to welcome families to the city

The Games, now in their tenth year, will be held in Sheffield next February for the second time in their history.

The Families Programme, for those who will be travelling to Sheffield to support a family member competing at the national level sports event, will include a family hub with a range of events and activities, signposted to local must-see attractions.

The National Games will be the largest disability sports event in 2017 – a celebration of high quality sports competition where entry to all sports venues will be free to the public. Venues for the Games will include the Sheffield Hallam University City Athletics Stadium, Sheffield City Trust’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Concord Sports Centre, Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre, the English Institute of Sport Sheffield and Forge Valley School.

Gaye Barber, Director of Volunteering & Community Engagement, said: “As well as making plans and arrangements for the athletes, we are also gearing up to welcome their families and friends who will be travelling from all around Great Britain. This could be anything up to 5000 additional people and we want them to enjoy the competition but also enjoy the wonderful and historic city of Sheffield.

“Supporting a family member, after months of dedicated training, is a good reason for excitement and celebration and, for many families, this will be their annual holiday so we want them to be able to make the most of their time in Sheffield. At the end of long and exciting days cheering on their own athlete, the families will spend the evenings socialising together and recalling the events of the day.”