The three-day event celebrates sports participation and achievement at all levels and is specifically aimed at pupils who do not usually represent their school in sport. The event aims to give young people a positive experience of sport and encourage them to get involved in sporting activities.
Participants will have the chance to take part in a range of different sports including, extreme golf, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, tag rugby, table tennis, cycling, boccia, t-ball, rowing, orienteering, mini-tennis and indoor athletics. Coaches and officials from the national governing bodies will lead each sport, supported by student volunteers from the University of Bristol and Filton College together with the school sport co-ordinators.
Participants will also have the opportunity to experience some high-quality coaching sessions, followed by a juice and smoothie making session with staff from Bordeaux Quay, with fruit donated by Waitrose. Representatives from Healthy Schools will also be on hand to talk about all aspects of healthy lifestyle choices.
Karen Harvey, Community Sport Development Manager at the University of Bristol and Chair of the event working group, said: ”This event reflects a city wide commitment to encouraging young people in Bristol to take part in, and enjoy taking part in, sport and physical activity. Everyone has worked hard to ensure that the event programme is fresh and attractive to schools and pupils and most importantly, that every single person involved, be they a pupil, teacher, coach or volunteer, goes home proud of having taken part in an outstanding day of sport and keen to do it all over again.”
Beth Mayman, Senior Competition Manager at Wesport, said:” It is really rewarding to be involved in delivering this fantastic event for young people in Bristol, as it provides an exciting and unique opportunity for pupils who do not usually represent their school sports teams to participate in a wide range of sports competitions and receive quality coaching. I hope that this experience will encourage and motivate them to continue taking part in school and community sport.”
The event is also part of the community programme linked to the 2008 Bristol and Bath UK School Games taking place from 28 to 31 August. Olympic Gold Medallist, Jason Gardener and UK School Games Ambassador will attend the event on Thursday 27 March to meet pupils from the City Academy School Sport Partnership and other VIP’s attending the morning reception.
The event is being held at the University’s Coombe Dingle Sports Complex from 9 am to 4.30 pm from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 March. The event is funded and delivered by a partnership of the following organisations, Bristol City Council, The John Rutley Sport Fund, University of Bristol, West of England Sport Trust (Wesport), Healthy Schools and the School Sport Partnerships comprising of Ashton Park School, Portway School and the City Academy.