26 August 2007
Excitement around the UK School Games continues to build in Coventry with further visits from government Ministers and world-renowned athletes during the three days of competition.
Meanwhile, on Saturday former Sports Minister Richard Caborn was unveiled as the inaugural President of the Games.
Kevin Brennan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Children, Schools and Families saw during his tour of the event how the competition has grown from strength to strength, spending time with competitors in the athletes’ village where he viewed the high quality facilities available to them. The village this year is playing host to even more of the most talented young athletes from all corners of the UK, who will have the opportunity to showcase their impressive talents at the unique multi-sport event.
Kevin Brennan said: “It’s been a real pleasure for me to see at first hand the impact the government support for competitive school sport has had. I have no doubt that all of the young people involved in the event will have the experience of a lifetime, not forgetting the thousands of other young people across the country who are benefiting from the transformation of competitive sport as a result of the National School Sport Strategy.”
Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said: “The UK School Games is fast establishing itself as the pinnacle competition for our talented young athletes. They have trained exceptionally hard in preparing themselves for this event and I wish them all the best of luck. I also applaud the work of the volunteers and coaches who have made the Games possible. The Government is committed to revolutionising competitive sport for young people and the success of the UK School Games is very much a part of that.”
The event, which will be staged every year through to 2011, will be attended on Sunday by Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister. During their visits, the Ministers will take part in a tour of the venues and meet competitors, coaches and volunteers.
With records set to be smashed across the other side of the globe in the World Athletics Championships taking place in Osaka, equally stunning performances have been seen in the range of sports, which include athletics, swimming, gymnastics, fencing, table tennis and - for the first time - judo, volleyball and badminton.
As the success of the Sydney Olympics was credited to the enormous contribution made by volunteers, so is the UK School Games providing a fantastic opportunity for young people from across the country to assist in the delivery of the event as technical officials, timekeepers, and event assistants.
Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, the organisation responsible for delivering the Games, said:
“We are delighted with the support shown by all of the ministers throughout this weekend and welcome Richard Caborn as the President of the UK School Games. He made a fantastic contribution to the development of PE and school sport as Sports Minister and he will bring a real energy and commitment to his new role. We are confident that the event will continue to help drive the transformation of competitive sporting opportunities for young people.”
£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.
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For further information on the announcement or for interviews with Steve Grainger of YST, please contact James Webb on 07752 372 151 or Katie Smith 07825 065 195
For further information about the UK School Games please contact Fast Track: Lisa Harper on 07881 822 161 or Alex Brown on 07803 037 530.
Notes to editors:
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, was set up in June 2004. It gives grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK and rolls out nearly £2 million in Lottery money every day.
The 2007 UK School Games in Coventry are being funded through £2.3 million of Lottery money awarded by the Millennium Commission in 2006, for which the Big Lottery Fund is now responsible.
Big Lottery Fund, DCMS and Arts Council England are supporting a legacy trust with over £40 million to fund sporting and cultural activity across the country in the lead up to London 2012. A portion of the funding will be dedicated to the funding of the UK School Games from 2008 to 2011. Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888 / Out of hours: 07867 500 572
Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
2. The Youth Sport Trust is a registered charity established in 1994 to build a brighter future for young people through sport. Its mission is to support the education and development of all young people through sport. Please visit www.youthsporttrust.org for more information.
Fast Track have been appointed by the Youth Sport Trust to deliver event management and media services for the UK School Games
Visa’s corporate commitment to the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Movement, the National Olympic and Paralympic Committees and national teams and individuals, has been an important factor in ensuring the continuance and success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Visa is signed up as a worldwide partner to both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games until 2012 and as such is firmly committed to the success of London 2012.
Coventry has a 'can-do' reputation for events, with the capture of this year's UK School Games following on from last year's International Children's Games, the annual Lady Godiva Half-Marathon and a packed annual events programme including Godiva, Jazz, Motoring and Mad UK festivals.
Coventry is proud to be located in the West Midlands, at the heart of it all. www.westmidlandsregion.co.uk