PINNACLE Services Inc Ararat Pumas' athletes will be sporting brand new uniforms when they make their much anticipated return journey across the border into South Australia to take part in the 2014 Tri State Games.
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The week long event at Murray Bridge will see the team compete in a range of activities including team and individual sports, athletics, aquatics and indoor sports.
Ararat has been fielding a team for more than a decade and after securing fourth place overall last year they will be hoping to do just as good or even better by replicating their podium finish in 2012.
The Pumas bagged a medal haul of 48 last year. It was the best return for the Ararat team, which bettered their medal count by one from 2013, when they finished third overall.
The results are by no means an easy feat, with up to 30 teams from across the three southern mainland states competing for the swag of medals on offer.
Pinnacle Inc program coordinator Daryl Baldock said the 13 participants range in age from between 18 and 60 and have been diligently preparing and training for the week of events.
Mr Baldock said this year the athletes have placed a heavy emphasis on swimming.
"Some of them have identified that they wanted to improve their swimming so they have put in a lot of extra effort and training," he said.
Mr Baldock said a fundraiser through the Ararat YMCA raised enough money for them to gain some guidance from an instructor on a regular basis.
"They have really benefited from having that instructor helping them train every Tuesday, they have improved out of sight, it is really incredible," he said.
"It isn't just the instruction though, they themselves have worked really hard to be fit and ready."
The Tri State Games are a week long sporting event attracting around 300 athletes from disability organisations throughout Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
The games are held yearly and focus on promoting active participation, friendly competition and positive social interaction for adults with a disability.
One of the main attractions of the Tri State Games is that it offers an opportunity for people with a significant/profound disability to participate in sporting activities that they may generally not be able to.
The Tri State Games also provides disability awareness opportunities to the community hosting the games.
Community awareness is generated through the training and inclusion of local volunteers, sporting and service clubs and community groups.
The games begin with an opening ceremony that includes a street parade through the centre of town, welcome by the town mayor and the raising of the Tri State Games flag.
The Tri State Games have grown and developed over the years to become Australia's largest 'grass roots' sporting event for people with a disability.
Currently around 300 athletes compete each year for individual medals and awards. Each medal awarded counts for points which are allocated to their team.
Teams are then able to win the coveted 'Perpetual Shield'. Athletes are well supported by around 100 coaches, carers and other assistants from across the three states.
Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard is again expected to excite participants with an appearance at both the opening ceremony and presentation evening.
Action kicks off Monday with competitors taking part in team sports including cricket, teeball, soccer and lawn bowls.
Tuesday they will take to track and field. Wednesday will be a chance for the athletes to catch their breath and prepare for the final couple of days of competition.
Thursday they will hit the water and look to make their biggest impact in the aquatics while on Friday there will be indoor sports like basketball throw, 8ball, darts and carpet bowls.
Mr Baldock said the level of participation and team's ongoing success wouldn't be possible without the continued support from local sponsors and the community.
He said this year's raffle which raised $2,700 was evidence of how much everyday people had thrown their support behind the competitors and the event.
"We had at least 55 different business people throw their support behind us again this year so we are very fortunate and thank them so much," he said.
"WDEA was really important, its donation of about $2,500 made the purchase of our new uniforms possible and the Lions Club of Ararat has also been so helpful this year," he said.
Mr Baldock said each of the athletes appreciate the staff at Pinnacle Inc and volunteers including bus driver John Robertson who donate time to make their participation possible.