The Sainsbury’s 2012 School Games finals, taking place in May, have received the backing of a range of successful British Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Olympic stars Denise Lewis, Darren Campbell and Jason Gardener were joined by Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, the Princess Royal and Sports and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt at a special reception at Downing Street this week to showcase the Games. Also in attendance were 12 young badminton and table tennis players who will be taking part in the Games (see picture).
The School Games will see 1,600 young people compete across 12 sports, six of which include disability competition. Venues will include the Olympic Stadium, Velodrome, Aquatics Centre and ExCel Centre in London.
Gold medal-winning Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis praised the School Games, saying that they will enable the young athletes to get a feel for what it is like to compete at the highest level. “Competing in some of the Olympic venues before London 2012 is something most young people can only dream of”, she said.
Sports included in the Games are athletics, badminton, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, rugby 7s, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and wheelchair basketball. In addition, there will be demonstration events in disability judo, gymnastics display and sitting volleyball.
More than 35,000 spectators from schools across the country are expected to watch the competitions which will take place from 6 to 9 May 2012.
To find out more about the Sainsbury’s 2012 School Games, visit:
www.2012schoolgames.com
