Hosted by the University of Bristol, and involving 18 secondary schools, the three-day event aims to celebrate sports participation by providing pupils with a positive experience of sport that recognises key Olympic values.
As well as taking part in an Opening Ceremony, with dance performances by pupils from Fairfield High School and The Park Local Opportunity Centre, participants will be competing for gold medals in a range of different sports including, futsal, tag rugby, dance, cycling, martial arts, boccia, t-ball, golf xtreme, rowing, indoor athletics and flag football. They will also be able to try smoothie-making sessions, thanks to Healthy Schools Bristol.
An Olympic Spirit trophy will be awarded to the school that has shown the best effort in demonstrating the seven Olympic and Paralympic values, which are friendship, excellence, inspiration, courage, determination, respect and equality.
Participants will also have the chance to meet Britain's highest-ranking wheelchair tennis player, Lucy Shuker, [23 March], who will be talking to pupils about her involvement in sport.
Now in its second year, the festival was one of the first events in the UK to have been awarded use of the London 2012 Inspire mark, which recognises exceptional projects inspired by the 2012 Games. It means that all those involved in the festival will be part of a regional south-west project that seeks to spread Olympic inspiration.
The event is part of the RELAYS [Regional Education Legacy for Arts and Youth Sports] programme, a higher education project which aims to blend youth sport and culture in a vibrant mixture of activities across the region in the build up to the 2012 Games. It is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity that has been set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games and HEFCE [The Higher Education Funding Council for England].
Robbie Fox, part of the University’s RELAYS Project Team, said: “The aim of the event is to provide young people with a really positive view of sport and healthy living as well as giving them aspirations of their own. We’re also extremely fortunate in having a fantastic group of sports leaders and volunteers who are fundamental to making this event a success, and contributing to a significant part of the city's community and sports development.”
Lisa Blacow, Senior Competition Manager, Wesport, said: “It is fantastic that we are able to offer an opportunity like this to pupils who may not normally be involved in sport competition fixtures. We hope that all pupils go away with the desire to continue taking part in sport either at school or in the community.”
The festival is supported by around 100 coaches and volunteers from the University of Bristol and Filton College and will take place at the University’s Coombe Dingle Sports Complex from 9.30 am to 4 pm from Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 March 2010.
The event is funded and delivered by a partnership of organisations. These are the John Rutley Sport Fund, University of Bristol’s Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health, West of England Sport Trust (Wesport), Healthy Schools Bristol and the School Sport Partnerships comprising of Ashton Park School, St Bedes and the City Academy.