6th August 2007
Glasgow’s Scotstoun Stadium, which hosted the Youth Sport Trust’s first UK School Games in September 2006, is set to receive a £4.5 million investment from the Scottish Government. The money will go towards a £14.2million overhaul of the stadium, up grading facilities to provide a municipal stadium - primarily for athletics - with provision for rugby and improved backroom facilities. Scotstoun is a key competition and training venue in Scotland's bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which will help develop and inspire our talented young athletes.
Ali Oliver, Youth Sport Trust Sport Director, was pleased the Scottish Government have given the area a financial boost; “Glasgow was a fantastic host city for the first UK School Games and it’s great that the Scotston Stadium has been given this extra support to continue providing world class facilities for young people and the community. The 2007 UK School Games is set to take place in Coventry this August and we hope to continue the Games legacy in Midlands”.
This years UK School Games are set to be bigger than ever with 1300 children competing, 300 more than at the original Games. The event will be held at five venues around the city from 23rd to 26th August. Three new sports; badminton, judo and volleyball, have been added to the five sports of athletics, fencing, gymnastics, swimming and table tennis, which featured in the 2006 Games. Disability events in athletics, swimming and table tennis will also be included.
The UK School Games is a multi-sport event for the nation's most talented athletes of school age. The games are scheduled be held every year until 2012 with other host destinations set to be the West of England (Bath and Bristol) in 2008; Wales (Cardiff, Swansea and Newport) in 2009; Tyne and Wear (Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland) in 2010 and Sheffield in 2011.
£2.3 million in National Lottery funding has been awarded to the Youth Sport Trust through the Big Lottery Fund, to develop the UK School Games until 2011 and for the 2007 Games in Coventry. Visa is the presenting sponsor of the 2007 Games which are also being supported by Coventry City Council.