News

Sainsbury’s announces sponsorship of UK School Games

Monday, 15 March 2010

Pictured with UKSG athletes, from left to right: Andy White, Head of Community and Sponsorship at Sainsbury's; Victoria Redfern, Active Kids Sponsorship Manager at Sainsbury's; Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council; Stacy Hall, Director of Community and Tourism at One NorthEast; Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust; Phil Chamberlain, Director of Strategy and External Relations, Legacy Trust UK; Jason Gardener, Olympic gold medallistSainsbury’s has today announced it will become headline sponsor of the prestigious UK School Games.

The Games, which are a major multi-sport event showcasing the UK’s most talented young athletes of school age, will be known as the Sainsbury’s UK School Games.

The UK School Games were launched in 2006 to provide elite young athletes with experience of a high profile competition, with an athletes’ village and opening and closing ceremonies, to replicate the Olympics and Paralympics or Commonwealth Games.

Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Sainsbury’s as the headline sponsor for the UK School Games.  With over 1,600 of the UK’s brightest young sporting talent expected to compete in the North East of England across ten Olympic and Paralympic sports and hundreds of young people officiating, volunteering and becoming sporting ambassadors at the event - the UK School Games are a real celebration of sport for young people.”

The Youth Sport Trust has been working in partnership with Sainsbury’s since September 2005. They support the Sainsbury’s TOP Activity programme which focuses on offering ‘alternative’ sports and physical activities to young people aged seven to 11 years who may not be accessing physical activity through traditional routes.

Sainsbury’s TOP Activity is supported by Sainsbury’s as part of its hugely successful Active Kids campaign which has provided over £86m worth of activity, cooking and gardening equipment and active experiences to schools and Scout and Guide groups across the UK since 2005.

The 2010 Sainsbury’s UK School Games, from September 2 – 5, will see Gateshead, Newcastle and Sunderland unite as hosts, reflecting the passion of sport in the North East of England. More than 1,600 young athletes will compete across ten sports: athletics, badminton, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, swimming, table tennis and volleyball, with disability events in swimming athletics and table tennis.