Polio survivors compete in national indoor games in Leicester

23rd March 2026

Around 100 polio survivors and their partners or carers gathered in Leicester over the weekend to take part in a variety of adapted sports and games, overcoming significant mobility and physical challenges.

The event, held at the Marriott Hotel, was the National Indoor Games organised by the British Polio Fellowship, a charity dedicated to supporting people living with polio and the neurological condition Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS).

Many participants relied on wheelchairs, crutches, or other aids as they competed, managing symptoms such as muscle weakness, joint pain, breathing and swallowing difficulties, and severe fatigue. For some, the effects of polio only became apparent later in life, long after the initial infection.

The annual Games are open to all polio survivors and feature activities including Kurling, Scrabble, Darts (Sitting and Standing), Cribbage, Dominoes, Boccia and more.

“For many attendees, this is the highlight of the year,” Kripen Dhrona, Chief Executive Officer at The British Polio Fellowship commented, as he expressed his appreciation for Leicester’s warm welcome.

“The event offers a valuable chance for people to reconnect with friends and form new bonds” he added, “and it plays an important role in reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness within the polio community.”

The weekend concluded with a gala dinner and an awards ceremony, celebrating the achievements of participants across all events.

To find out more about The British Polio Fellowship and to learn about the late effects of polio and post-polio syndrome visit: www.britishpolio.org.uk