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Britain’s most successful
judo player Neil Adams and best ever gymnast Beth Tweddle, gave
their stamp of approval to the 2007 UK School Games at a warm
up event for youngsters in Coventry today.
1300 children will compete
in the second UK School Games which will see eight sports of athletics,
badminton, fencing, gymnastics, judo, swimming, table tennis and
volleyball, held at five venues around Coventry from 23 rd to
26 th August.
The event has been designed
to replicate a major adult multi-sport competition and will have
an opening and closing ceremony plus an athlete’s village.
Adams’ sport of judo will
make its UK School Games debut this year. The Rugby born double
Olympic silver medallist and twice world champion, who lived in
Coventry for 20 years, will be personally involved in the competition.
Adams said: “I’m really
pleased that judo has been included in the UK School Games this
year and am looking forward to being involved as the team manager
for Wales. I think this is a fantastic opportunity for our young
players to get the experience of a big multi-sport competition
while they are developing.
“There are a number of
extra demands on competitors at an event of this magnitude. The
UK School Games will be a good measure of the focus and discipline
of our young talent when dealing with additional distractions
such as opening and closing ceremonies and an athlete’s village.”
Gymnastics was one of the
highlights of the inaugural UK School Games in Glasgow last year.
Tweddle, the only British gymnast ever to become a world champion,
is very enthusiastic about the inclusion of her sport again for
the 2007 competition in Coventry.
Tweddle said: “I’m really
excited to be supporting the UK School Games and I think it’s
a great idea. Going to a big multi-sport event for the first time
can be very daunting and I would have loved the chance to experience
something like this on home soil when I was coming through the
ranks.
“It’s a good chance for
our young gymnasts to learn about performing at a high profile
competition alongside other sports, and I’m sure all the competitors
will have a fantastic time.”
£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.
Steve Grainger, chief executive
of the Youth Sport Trust said: “The significance of the UK School
Games is that it creates an inspirational setting to bring young
people of school-age together so they can be part of a major sporting
event, be it as competitors, technical officials or volunteers.
“The UK School Games offer
our talented youngsters the vital experience of competing at the
highest level, mixing with athletes from other sports and developing
all important life-skills in an environment normally only enjoyed
by world class performers.”
Tickets for the UK School
Games are available via telephone on 0871 230 1080 or online at
www.ukschoolgames.com
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