Nine communities kick start Olympic-styled school sports competition
National competition will revolutionize school sport.
Schools in the Black Country, London, Cornwall, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear will be the first to take part in a new Olympic and Paralympic-style school sports competition, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced today.
They will be piloting a new national school sports competition which will see young people competing within their own schools and against other local schools in a wide range of sports. It will culminate in a national competition in 2012 in the Olympic Park, with formal opening and closing ceremonies and medals.
“Win or lose - competitive sport teaches children important life lessons - in commitment, discipline and teamwork”, said Jeremy Hunt. “Our new Olympic-styled school sports competition will spark a revolution in school sport, and leave a lasting legacy from London’s Games. We want to involve as many schools and young people as possible, so that children of all abilities and ages are able to take part and strive to be the best that they can be.”
Sporting legacy
The competition is a key part of the Government’s plans for a lasting sporting legacy from hosting the London 2012 Games and to maximise the sporting opportunities available to all.
Schools will compete against each other in leagues at a local level from 2011 with winning athletes and teams qualifying for area finals. Schools will be encouraged to host in-house Olympic-style sports days for children of all abilities. There will be a Paralympic element at every level of the competition for young people with disabilities.