Wednesday, May 26, 2004

County offers Blaze athletic programs

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

BlazeSports Georgia, an athletic program for children and adults with physical disabilities, started in 1998. Named after the Atlanta Paralympic Games mascot, Blaze, the goal was to offer year-round local programs delivered by the community recreation provider. The Fayette County Recreation Department has offered Blaze programs in tennis and basketball for several years, but would like to see participation numbers increase.

“Those who have participated in the program have had a good time,” said Anita Godbee, Director of the Fayette County Recreation Department. “We’d just like to see the program grow.”

Open to any person with a physical disability of any age, participants play either wheelchair tennis or basketball. Each session of the program begins with practices and evolves into scrimmages. Godbee and Kevin Wingo, the recreation department’s athletic coordinator, would like to see enough participation to allow the county Blaze program to travel and play against other county programs. They would also like to offer swimming in the near future.

The Fayette County Recreation Department will offer tennis at the Kiwanis tennis courts on Redwine Road Thursday evenings from 7-8 p.m. in June. Both Godbee and Wingo have seen the positive effects the program has on participants, as it gives them a chance to do something athletic, as well as an opportunity to do something with their peers.

For more information on the Blaze program, phone the Fayette County Recreation Department at 770-461-9714.