EIGHT local athletes have returned with an abundance of medals after representing Kyeema Support Services at the Tri State Games for 2022.

The athletes and support staff made the trip to Cobram Barooga for the six-day event which ran from Sunday November 6 through to Friday November 12.

The games are designed for athletes with a disability to compete across a range of events.

While it was a celebrated event across the week, organisers said it was touch and go if it would go ahead due to flooding around the area preventing access.

This year’s event was the first time the Tri State Games have been held since 2019 with COVID preventing any competition in 2020 and 2021.

Kyeema Support Services worker and organiser for the Tri State Games, Robyn Meade, said it was a welcome return for the athletes.

“They all had so much fun and really enjoyed the whole experience of the games,” she said.

“It didn’t matter who was on what team, they were out at all the events cheering and getting around each other.”

For four of the athletes the Cobram event was their fifth Tri State Games attendance.

All Portland athletes returned with plenty of medals with Nicole Lakey earning a trophy for being the overall winner in her division.

“There was meant to be 250 athletes but because of the floods and that sort of thing teams had to pull out, but for those that went it really didn’t matter,” Meade said.

“It did not matter if you were tall, short, fast whatever your skills were everyone had a really good go.”

Athlete Jessica Moore said the event was well worth attending, even if it was a bit warmer than the south west region.

“I ended up with a few medals for some different events,” she said.

“My favourite one was for the bean bag throw.

“But it was seriously so hot, like 30 degrees or something most days.”

Kyeema Chief Executive Officer Julie Amor said it was a great turnout from local athletes with a lot of behind the scenes work to make it happen.

“Robyn did so much in the lead up to the event and even during the week,” Amor said.

“It was a bit touch and go with the flooding, so she was in communication with the organisers the whole time to make sure we had the right information.

“Some of the events had to be adapted due to the flooding up there but it sounded like it was just such great fun.”

Tri State Games coming to Portland in 2024 and 2025

Portland was selected to host the Tri State Games in 2022 and 2023 but due to COVID delays the games will be coming to town for the first time in 2024 and then 2025.

The games have been running for 16 years and bring together around 250 athletes from Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

The games are held for one week in November.

Alexandra Park, which is currently undertaking a huge redevelopment, is expected to be a key venue for the games.