Perth & Kinross Disability Sport - SCIO

Fair City Games: Something For Everyone

Every great story starts with an idea. Ours started with a simple question: what if our region's biggest competitive sports events could be more than just a date in the calendar - what if they could be a movement?

That answer became the ‘Fair City Games’, the new identity for Perth & Kinross Disability Sports' main competitive events programme. It's a rebrand, yes - but it's also a promise: that competitive and inclusive sport in Perth & Kinross will always be accessible and free to everyone, at every ability level.

Where the Idea Came From

The spark came from watching the incredible work being done by Dundee City Disability sport - DCDS with their Discovery Games events programme. Seeing what was possible when a disability sports programme was given a strong identity and a clear mission got us thinking about what our own events brand could become. If they could build that kind of excitement and community around their games, so could we.

Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Branch Coordinator, Graeme Doig explained “Before we started our events programme in 2019, I’ve always thought that we have our next national or international champion living in our community, they just haven’t had the opportunity to find their sport yet. Creating the Fair City Games has given so many people with disabilities the chance to show off their skills and talent across many sports. It’s now so rewarding to see so many people that started with our programmes make their mark on the international stage.”

Why We're Doing This

At the heart of it, the Fair City Games is about levelling up how we run and deliver competitive and inclusive sport across Perth & Kinross. It's about making sure every event - however big or small - feels like part of something bigger. Something for everyone. For all ability levels.

And crucially, the Fair City Games isn't the finish line. It's a starting point. For many of our participants, it's the first stepping stone on a pathway that can lead all the way to regional, national, and even international competition. Every swimmer, bowler, or athlete who steps onto the field of play with us today could be the competitor lining up at a national final tomorrow. That's the pathway we want people to see when they picture the Fair City Games: not just a local meet, but the first rung on a much bigger ladder.

Humble Beginnings

The Perth & Kinross Disability Sport events programme began life with three sports: lawn bowls, boccia and badminton. Simple foundations, but they gave us the platform to prove what was possible.

How Far We've Come

Since then, the Games have grown considerably. What started as three sports has now expanded to ten sports across the full year, giving participants far more ways to get involved, compete, and belong. The sports on offer include:

Athletics
Archery
Lawn Bowls
Boccia
Badminton
Curling
Table Tennis
SOMA
Wheelchair Basketball
Swimming

“From all of us at Summerhill Blind Bowlers, a huge thank you to you and your team for all your hard work in making this competition happen so smoothly and successfully. We have for the past three years thoroughly enjoyed this event and it is a highlight of our season.” Iain Riach – Bowls Coach

The Experience

Numbers and sports lists are only part of the journey. What really brings the Fair City Games to life are the people in it - the athletes and participants, families, officials, volunteers and coaches who make every event what it is.

“I’m Daisy and I’m 17. I’m very lucky as I get to compete in local events with Perth & Kinross Disability Sport. I enjoy boccia, tennis, athletics and badminton at their sessions in Crieff. I also get to compete in boccia, swimming and archery in Perth through the Fair City Games! I love all these sports as I get to compete with all my friends.”

Local Athlete, Sophie Mcfee told us “I have so much fun attending the Fair City games. I go to the athletics, table tennis and Boccia events and enjoy competing with all the friends I’ve made through sport, especially at Boccia.

I like it when I perform at my best and get my best score - it really helps me build up my confidence when competing in competitions. It’s great having this in Perth and not having to travel far.”

We Can't Do This Alone

None of this would be possible without our partners. The Fair City Games has huge support behind it from local clubs and national bodies, and that partnership element is central to what makes these Games work.

We're especially proud to have QTS Contracts North Ltd on board as our headline sponsor. Their support does something genuinely important: it enables us to maintain our commitment to free participation. No entry fees, no barriers - sponsors like QTS mean that cost is never the reason someone misses out on competitive sport. That's a message we want at the heart of the Fair City Games: this is inclusive sport that's open to everyone, regardless of ability or circumstance.

"QTS Contracts North champions an active, healthy lifestyle - our staff play, coach and support sports like football, rugby and running. That's why we value Perth & Kinross Disability Sport so highly, especially its inclusivity and free-to-enter events. Graeme and the team organise everything brilliantly, making everyone feel welcome and encouraged.

Supporting these events this summer has been fun and inspiring, watching PKDS's athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters build a real community together. We're proud to be a sponsor!" - Martin Hodge, Commercial Manager, QTS Contracts North Ltd

Where We're Headed

This is just the beginning of the adventure. Our focus now is on building awareness of the Fair City Games, building excitement around what they represent, and growing participant numbers year on year. We want more people across Perth & Kinross - whatever their ability - to see themselves in this story and to know there's a place for them here.

Because that's what the Fair City Games is really about. Something for everyone. For all ability levels. A pathway that starts here and could take you anywhere.

Join us. Take part. Be part of the Fair City Games story

Get in touch to get involved – graeme@pkds.org.uk

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