Devon School Games to take place at iconic sporting sites

The legacy of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics lives on in Devon with over 2000 young people competing at this year’s Devon Summer School Games.

The Games are taking place on Wednesday 24th June in Plymouth across the some of its most iconic sporting sites.

These sites include the Plymouth Life Centre, Central Park, Plymouth Albion RFC and The Brickfields Recreational Ground. Plymouth School Sport Partnership are hosting the Games in conjunction with Active Devon, with support from RELAYS.

The Games are part of the national Sainsbury's School Games programme and feature a range of sports including Athletics, Cycling, Golf, Indoor Rowing, Orienteering, Tennis and Rounders. Throughout the day there will also be a range of taster sports on offer such as O2 Touch Rugby, Indoor Bowls and indoor climbing.

The day kicks off at 09.15 with schools arriving from across the county ready for the opening ceremony, which will feature young leaders, local dance crews as well as a prominent national sporting champion. Sophie Currie, Active Devon’s School Games Development Coordinator said “Not only do the Games provide the chance for young sporting stars to compete in seven different and very varied sports, they also offer a golden opportunity for nearly 250 young volunteers to shine as Games Makers, helping to run the event”.

Backed by National Lottery funding from Sport England, the Games have inclusiveness at their heart and are a successful means for young people to take part in sport across the school year. There are four levels of competition; school, local, regional and finally national level. Some of the winners from the events in Plymouth on 24th June may go on to compete for Devon at the Level 4 National School Games in September, being held in Manchester.

Devon's School Games Festivals use the inspiration of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics to transform competitive sport in schools and get more young people playing sport. “Last years summer school games in Plymouth, was the biggest games so far with nearly 2000 young athletes and officials taking part” said Lance Chatfield, School and Community Sports Manager for Plymouth School Sport Partnership. “I believe in equal chances and the games format ensures that the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics continues to be felt right across Devon, with athletes from all corners taking part in this great festival of sport”.

This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better, with more teams entering and the city of Plymouth is looking forward to welcoming young, talented athletes from across Devon to the outstanding sporting facilities that the city has to offer.  A number of Change 4Life clubs will also be invited along to the venues to try out the opportunities on offer. 

More information about the School Games is available on Active Devon's website www.activedevon.org and on the Sainsbury's School games website www.2015schoolgames.com/