Glasgow ready for UK School Games

Sporting venues for the inaugural UK School Games were announced on Tuesday as Glasgow declared itself ready to welcome 1,200 youngsters from all over the UK, who will take part in this new multi-sport event for the most talented teenagers in the country.

Further details about the UK School Games, which is being organised by the Youth Sport Trust, were revealed at a press conference attended by Scottish Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Patricia Ferguson MSP and legendary Scottish Olympic swimming champion David Wilkie.

The event takes place at a range of venues across the city, from 7-10 September:   

Athletics, table tennis and fencing will take place at Scotstoun International Stadium.

The athletics competition will see 12 teams from the under-17 age group competing against each other in 35 events. In addition there will be four disability athletics events.

Fencing will feature one team from each home country, with competitors from the under-17 age group competing in both individual and team events over two days of competition.

Eight teams will compete in table tennis, from England north, south, east, west and midlands; all Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The two and a half days of competition for under-18’s will begin on the afternoon of Friday 8 September.

Swimming will take place at Tollcross pool.
Swimming will see eight teams from the under-16 age group competing against each other on the Saturday - four from England, two from Scotland, one all Ireland and one from Wales. Ten disability events will also take place in the pool.

Gymnastics will be held at the Kelvin Hall.
Gymnastics will also feature one team from each home country in competition on the Saturday. The men’s artistic event will be for the under-16 age group while the women’s will feature under-19’s.

The UK School Games will be funded by the Millennium Commission who will provide a National Lottery grant of £1.5m. The Youth Sport Trust will be responsible for staging the competition.

Steve Grainger, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust said:

"The Youth Sport Trust are delighted to be responsible for managing the first UK School Games and I'd like to thank Glasgow for the commitment that they are putting behind the event and for the great facilities that will be on offer to young people from all over the UK when the Games kick off on September 7th.

“The UK School Games are the central part of a process that seeks to create a world class competitive sport structure for young people by 2012.

“September's four day spectacular in Glasgow will be aiming to re-create the environment normally only experienced by world class adult performers and to set a new standard for presentation of sports events for young people."

David Wilkie, former Olympic swimming gold medallist said:

“I’m proud that my home country of Scotland will host the inaugural UK School Games and am sure that Glasgow will do a great job in welcoming competitors and spectators from all over Britain.
 
“I think the UK School Games will provide competitors with a fantastic opportunity to experience and learn how to deal with the challenges of a large multi-sport event, while focussing on performing to the highest standard against the best opposition in the country.”

The UK School Games is also being supported by Glasgow City Council, Sportscotland, EventScotland and VISA as presenting sponsor.

Related links:
UK School Games
Visa
Millennium Commision
Glasgow City Council