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With the 2012 London Olympics fast approaching and
the 2008 UK Schools Games taking place in the South West this year,
North Somerset will be holding its own Olympic-themed multi-sport
festival.
Hundreds of primary school pupils from across North Somerset
will take part in the North Somerset Festival of Sport on Wednesday
25 June. Hosted by Hutton Moor Leisure Centre the festival is a
partnership programme between North Somerset Council's sports
development team, Wesport's competition management team and the
newly formed North Somerset Schools' Sport Association.
The festival is also part of North Somerset Partnership's
Go4Life campaign to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.
UK School Games ambassador and Olympic sprint star Jason Gardner
will be joining participants at the event along with Denise Austin,
Lead for Sporting Champions in the South West and Olympic
volleyball player. Both athletes will spend time presenting medals
and inspiring competitors in the opening ceremony and throughout
the event.
Over 40 primary, junior and special schools in the area will be
taking part on the day, which will total over 500 participants.
Sports on offer to schools include sports hall athletics,
orienteering, pop lacrosse, rounders, tag rugby, t-ball, tennis,
tri golf and volleyball.
The festival is a participation event for 'non' school team
competitors to play a new sport against others of similar
experience; there will also be specific awards for fairplay and
effort.
On the day of the festival schools will receive one hour of
coaching in a sport they have not experienced before, this will
then lead into fun games when schools will play against one
another.
Thanks to sponsorship from Bristol International Airport and
Knightstone Housing Association every participant will receive a
festival t-shirt and medal. North Somerset Healthy Schools
programme will also provide participants with a free baseball
cap.
Executive member for children and young people, Cllr Jeremy
Blatchford, said: "This is a fantastic new opportunity for
participants to try a new sport and experience competition in a fun
environment. Local clubs and coaches will be organising the
specific events providing a link for schools into local community
sport clubs. Hopefully this will be the first of many and I would
like to thank Knightstone Housing Association and Bristol
International Airport for their support."
The festival event is also supporting the UK School Games
community development programme, which is encouraging youth sport
in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics. Organisers of the UK School
Games have also donated free tickets for festival participants to
watch the games so they can gain tips from our UK sports stars in
action. |