Better Club Games 2026 - Could you take the top spot?

Sports-mad residents aged over 60 in Lincolnshire are being invited to come forward and join in with this year's 'Better Club Games'.

The Games – which are being held at Cherry Hinton Village Leisure Centre in Cambridgeshire on 17 September - are informally known as 'The Older Persons' Olympics' and celebrate positive ageing, keeping fit and making friends.

As such they are also billed as the ‘UK’s Festival of Active Ageing’.

Organisers are hoping for at least 20 local people to join in this year, coming together to compete in a variety of sports including badminton, pickleball, table tennis and short mat bowls.

Better Leisure centres in Lincolnshire - including One NK in Hykeham, Sleaford Leisure Centre, and Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln- are currently looking for a few more contestants to take part, with the possibility they could take home the trophy.

Participants don’t have to be particularly 'good' at a sport – but they need to be willing to join in and 'have a go'. On top of that, the events offer the chance to get to know neighbours and make lots of new friends.

The Better Club Games are organised by charitable social enterprise GLL which runs leisure centres across England and Wales under the 'Better' brand in partnership with local authorities. Supporting the wellbeing of local communities is an important part of the organisation's ethos.

Jamie Cheevers, GLL's Community Sports Manager in Lincolnshire, comments, "The Better Club Games are a fantastic opportunity for people over 60 to get active, try something new and, most importantly, have fun. Whether you’re naturally competitive or just want to come along, meet people and enjoy the day, there’s something for everyone.

“The Games are the ‘UK’s Festival of Active Ageing’, and that really captures what they’re all about. In Lincolnshire, we want everyone to feel welcome, get involved and give things a go. There’s plenty of friendly competition, but it’s taking part, having fun and enjoying the experience that really matters.”

Lincolnshire is looking for people to take part in the following sports -