Hundreds of school pupils gear up for School Games
Secondary school pupils from across Birmingham have their eyes set on podium glory as the annual Winter Secondary School Games kicks off this week.
Youngsters from 54 schools across Birmingham will go head to head in eight sporting disciplines on Thursday (February 7).
Inspired from the success of London 2012’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, just over 900 teens will take part in The Sainsbury’s School Games at venues across the city, including the National Indoor Arena (NIA) and the Futsal Arena.
Tom McIntosh, Interim Director at Birmingham Sport and Physical Activity Partnership, (BSPAP), said: “School Games provide a golden opportunity for young people to enjoy school sport competition in a high quality and inclusive environment.
Last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games have inspired lots of school children to take an interest in sport, and The Sainsbury’s School Games is the perfect platform to inspire many to go on to pursue their own ‘Olympic dream’.”
Targeted at able-bodied and disabled pupils alike, the games provide a series of competitive sporting activities ranging from rowing to boccia.
As well as playing host to a day of sporting competitions, School Games will also feature an elaborate opening ceremony - capturing the spirit of the London 2012’s grand opening ceremony.
Bethany Gubbins, aged 14, from Hall Green Secondary School has been selected to be the volunteer oath bearer at the event on Thursday.
The outgoing kick-boxer, who also plays football and netball, said she felt ‘honoured and privileged’ to be selected for the special role, out of hundreds of students.
But Bethany isn’t the only person who will get a chance to try her hand at something different.
Birmingham Sport and Physical Activity Partnership have enlisted the support of five media enthusiasts from across the city that will act as roving reporters and photographers on the day from a specially set up news ‘diary room’.
Ashlie Caddick, Youth Sport Officer from BSPAP, added: “We have been thrilled at the level of interest from schools across Birmingham to take part in School Games, and really want to make this year’s event extra special.
We are also delighted to be holding our athletics competitions for the first time at the NIA. School Games competitiors feel very privileged to be warming up at the track that will host some of the world’s best athletes ahead of the British Athletics Grand Prix that is taking place just days after our Birmingham School Games Festival event.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Birmingham School Games is part of the wider School Games National Programme funded by Sport England and sponsored by Sainsbury’s.
The Sainsbury’s School Games forms part of the Coalition Government’s school sport priorities; aiming to build on the excitement and the energy of the London 2012 Games to inspire and motivate young people to take part in, and enjoy, competitive school sport - whatever their ability or background.
The Games are made up of four levels of activity: competition in schools, between schools, at county/area level and a national finals event.
- Level 1: sporting competition for all students in school through intra-school competition.
- Level 2: individuals and teams are selected to represent their schools in local inter-school competitions
- Level 3 – the county/area will stage multi-sport School Games festivals as a culmination of year-round school sport competition
- Level 4 – the School Games finals: a national multi-sport event where the most talented young people in the UK will be selected to compete in our sporting venues (including the Olympic Park in 2012).
Schools taking part in School Games are:
Kings Norton Boys
Bishop Challoner
Baverstock
Hall Green
King Edward Camp Hill Boys
King Edward Camp Hill Girls
Queensbridge
Hodge Hill Sports College
Small Heath Secondary
Calthorpe School
Hodge Hill Girls School
St Albans
Turves Green Girls School
Bartley Green School Specialist Technology and Sports College
Frankley High School
Colmers School
Yardleys
Golden Hillock
Holy Trinity
Bordesley Green Girls School
Waverley School
Hamstead Hall
George Dixon
St John Wall
St Pauls Girls
Holyhead School
Holte School
Aston Manor
King Edwards Aston VI
King Edward Handsworth
Heartlands Academy
Holte
St Edmund Campion
Great Barr
Perry Beeches Academy
Stockland Green
Kingsbury School
Bournville School
Shenley Academy
King Edwards High School for Girls
Lordswood
Hillcrest
Cockshut Hill
King Edwards Sheldon Heath
Archbishop Ilsley
International School
Bishop Vesey
John Wilmott
Arthur Terry
Wilson Stuart
Bishop Walsh
Fairfax
Plantsbrook
Sutton Girls
Donna Roddy, Citydesk Sport, on behalf of Birmingham Sport and Physical Activity Partnership.
The Fireworks, 3-6 The Old Fire Station, 68 Albion Street, Birmingham B1 3EA
office 0121 710 4482
web www.citydesksport.com
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