Children get own Olympics as Sainsbury's School Games comes to Greater Manchester

By Andrew Belt

Manchester school children can take part in their own version of the Olympic Games as Sainsbury’s 2012 School Games come to the area.

Over 1800 pupils are set to compete in the Greater Manchester Summer Games on Tuesday July 3 in a wide variety of sports including athletics, netball and football.

The Games will be spread all over the county and will be held in some of Greater Manchester’s most prestigious sporting venues, such as The National Cycling Centre and Indoor Athletics Arena.

Julie Hazeldine, Headteacher at Flixton Girls and Chair of the Local Organising Committee, said: “We hope that all the pupils involved in our School Games Festival will be inspired to continue in sport throughout the year.”

It follows the recent success of Sainsbury’s School Games that took place at the Olympic Park in May.

It’s no coincidence that the events (as part of a nationwide festival comprised of more than 60 regional competitions) are taking place just weeks before the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics get underway and is part of the government’s effort to encourage more schoolchildren to participate in competitive school sport.

Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, said: “I want to wish every young athlete taking part in the regional School Games the very best of luck. Through events like these we can inspire, enthuse and engage young people in sport.”

The School Games are not to be a one-off event though, with over £128m of Lottery and Government funding being invested to support the School Games over the next three years.

It promises to be a special day in Greater Manchester and could provide the springboard for unearthing the Olympics stars of the future.

For more details about the School Games please visit: http://theschoolgames.com

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