7th February 2008
Record numbers of young athletes are set to compete at the UK School Games, when it is staged in Bristol and Bath this summer. A new sport – hockey – will also join the existing eight sports included in the competition.
Details of the 2008 event were announced today in Bath by Olympic gold medallist Jason Gardener and young fencer and UK School Games gold medalist, Sophie Williams, who both hail from the South West.
1500 children will compete in the event, which will be held at four venues around the city from 28th to 31st August and will replicate a major adult multi-sport competition, with an opening and closing ceremony plus an Athletes village.
The event promises to be even bigger and better than previous years. New developments include the development of a school supporters programme to get local schools involved in the Games, work with Mencap and the governing bodies of sports to develop clear pathways into the competition for athletes with learning disabilities and additional use of young officials during the event.
£6 million from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has been awarded to the Youth Sport Trust through Legacy Trust UK, to develop the UK School Games in Bristol and Bath in 2008 and each year until 2011.
Jason Gardener hailed the opportunity available for young sports competitors to excel:
“I am proud that the UK School Games will be held in my home region in 2008 and I’m looking forward to what will be a hugely successful event. It represents a fantastic opportunity for the best young competitors to gain invaluable experience of future multi-sport competitions and I hope all those welcomed to Bristol and Bath in August will seize the opportunity to compete to the very best of their ability.”
Sophie Williams, double gold medallist at the UK School Games 2006 and 2007, said:
“I am really excited by having the 2008 UK School Games so close to where I train and live. It is a fantastic event and I’m hoping that this year will be just as good, if not better, than the previous events. I had an absolutely great time in 2006 and 2007 and it was brilliant to win gold medals at both Games – something I will be aiming for again this year.”