School Games pilot events begin
Competition aims to boost disability sport in schools.
Hundreds of budding sports stars competed in their first School Games Festival in Hertfordshire today.
The event was one of nine pilots taking place across the country this summer ahead of the launch of the new national School Games competition in September, which will aim to use London 2012 to inspire more young people to take up competitive sport.
At the festival, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt set out plans to drive a step change in school sport for disabled children, including:
- measuring participation rates of young disabled children through the Taking Part survey
- increasing the number of sports for disabled children, including providing sports for young disabled athletes at next year’s School Games
- providing more guidance and support for schools
Young people taking part in the School Games will have the chance to compete in a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports such as hockey, swimming and boccia. Competitions within schools will lead to town, country and ultimately national levels. The national final will be held in the Olympic Stadium in May 2012.