The UK School Games began in 2006, and was established as a high-quality multi-sport event for the most talented young people in the country of school age. It seeks to create an inspirational and motivational setting which will encourage more young people to take part in sport.
For the athletes competing at the UK School Games the unique atmosphere provided by this event encourages the highest levels of performance. At the 2007 Games in Coventry there were 99 personal best performances in athletics, including one World Junior Record.
The UK School Games also provides opportunities for young people to experience a major multi-sport event as a volunteer or official. Hundreds of young people play key roles each year as event volunteers and technical officials, recruited through the Step into Sport programme and training courses run by National Governing Bodies of Sport.
Responsibility for the development and organisation of the UK School Games lies with the Youth Sport Trust. The UK School Games is a key aspect of the systemic change that is occurring to the landscape of competitive sport for young people in the UK. A regional qualifying pathway is developing in a number of the UK School Games sports. This will connect the UK School Games four day event to the national network of Competition Managers.
Six key themes have been created to ensure the UK School Games bring about systematic change in the way in which competitive opportunities are developed for young people and that a lasting legacy is created.
The UK School Games aims are:
- Ongoing planning and delivery of a UK level sports event showcasing talented young sports people;
- To bring about a step change in the content, structure and presentation of competitive sporting opportunities for young people;
- Use the event itself, and themed branding of local and regional competitions, to raise the profile of school age competitions and the young people taking part, to promote the work undertaken in each nation to improve PE and School Sport;
- Integrate Olympic and Paralympic themes into the UK School Games by ensuring that the Olympic and Paralympic values are promoted through volunteer training, opening and closing ceremonies and an athlete village;
- Create opportunities for young people to become engaged in volunteering at major sports events both as technical officials and event volunteers;
- Ensure the event advocates and demonstrates the highest level of child protection and welfare systems.
The UK School Games (UKSG) is a competitive event for elite young athletes of school age from across the UK. It aims to provide talented young sports people with the opportunity to compete in an event which replicates the feel of a major multi-sport event such as the Olympic and Paralympics Games.
As part of the drive to ensure the Games are an inclusive event, the Youth Sport Trust, in partnership with national governing bodies of sport and central Government will work with the UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability (UKSA) to ensure that events are fair to all competitors. UKSA is the governing body in the UK who manage the registration system for athletes with a learning disability.
The Youth Sport Trust through its work with UKSA, will consult Mencap Sport in England, Disability Sports NI, Welsh Sports Association for People with Learning Disability and Scottish Disability Sport to ensure that athletes with a learning disability from across the UK have appropriate opportunities and pathways to reach and compete in the Games.
Swimming, athletics and table tennis are the first three UKSG sports working to ensure that there are clear and competitive pathways for young people with learning disability to progress from local to national level competition. The first outcome of this work will happen at the UKSG 2008 and will be the inclusion of table tennis as an exhibition event for athletes with a learning disability.
For more information on the UK School Games please go to the website: www.ukschoolgames.com