Rain or shine, nothing could dampen the electrifying energy at First Thursdays ‘Game On,’ a sports-themed event hosted by UCLA and the Westwood Village Improvement Association on March 7, 2024. Hundreds of Bruins and community members gathered in Westwood Village to get their GAME ON as the First Thursdays block party livened up Broxton Avenue with sports, art installations, and Bruin spirit.
From tailgate-style games to gravity-defying bungee and trampoline experiences, and even an esports gaming truck, there was no shortage of heart-pounding excitement that evening. The event was also an important step forward for promoting the importance of adaptive sports and recreation activities, championing the idea that sports are for everybody.
The Disability Studies Sports & Society Lab teamed up with Blizzard Entertainment and UCLA Rec Esports to take gaming to a whole new level, bringing gaming computers that gave students and the Westwood community a chance to explore accessibility features in fan-favorites like Valorant and Overwatch.
Photographs from the City of Irvine’s New Normal: Skateboarding Now, brought through a partnership with Sports and Social Change and the City of Irvine, were also on display. The photography exhibit was an impressive showcase of athletic ability and featured a diverse group of professional skateboarders, including those who are blind and wheelchair bound, performing their unique styles and tricks for skateboarding.
PlayLA Adaptive Sports Program also partnered with UCLA Adaptive Rec to host wheelchair basketball games for all abilities. Led by players of the sport and former professional athletes, attendees had the opportunity to move and shoot basketballs while in a wheelchair, revealing the challenges and fun that come with playing an adapted version of a well-known sport. The ‘Game On’-themed First Thursdays proved one thing loud and clear: when it comes to sports and community, there are no limits to what can be achieved.
For detailed information about the Disability Studies Sports and Society Lab, visit:
https://dslabs.ucla.edu/labs/sports-and-society-lab/
Curious about the Disability Studies Major and Minor?
Follow us on Instagram @ucla.disability.studies
