The 2009 UK School Games (UKSG) were officially launch on the 5th March 2009 at Cardiff Castle by former Olympic gold and silver medallist and ambassador for the event Darren Campbell.

The UKSG will be held in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea from 3rd to 6th September and will replicate a major adult multi-sport competition with an opening and closing ceremony plus an athlete’s village.

The judo event is set to take place on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th September 2009 from 12pm to 6pm at the University of Swansea.

Darren Campbell was joined by twice Olympic silver medallist judoka, Neil Adams MBE and past and future UKSG competitors, including judo’s Brandon Dodge - twice UKSG Champion.

Neil now the Head Coach of the Welsh Judo Association and Brandon both put Darren through his paces on the mat during the launch by introducing him to the basic moves of the sport.

The UKSG will be held in Wales for the first time, over four days and will host 1,600 competitors in 10 different sporting events including judo, track cycling, swimming, and badminton.

Brandon who won gold medals in the 2007 and 2008 events will strive for a third consecutive gold when he competes in the 2009 judo event in his home town of Swansea.

Brandon said, “It's brilliant to be here today, absolutely brilliant to be involved with the judo demonstration. To get Darren Campbell on the mat and give him a bit of a fight was great”.

He continued, “I can't wait for the UK School Games to come to Wales this year. I was at Coventry, and Bath and Bristol, but to have it in Wales is the icing on the cake especially as it's my last year competing, I'm aiming for my third gold”.

“The UK School Games is brilliant, the atmosphere, well, I've never experienced anything like it. To be involved in a four day event is great, meeting people from different sports and the campus is great”.

Darren Campbell said, “When I was coming through we didn’t have a Games like this.  Nothing can prepare you for an Olympics but this is the closest thing to it, the reality is it’s a mini Olympics. 

"I had talent but I had to learn discipline and if you want to be successful you have to be disciplined.  This is a good chance for them to experience that and learn how to deal with it, as pressure can send you in the wrong directions”.

He continued “As a young athlete trying to forge a career in elite sport, I would have loved to have been able to mix with hundreds of other athletes, learn from them and compete on a national stage against the best in my age group”.

For further information on the 2009 UK School Games please visit www.ukschoolgames.com.