Getting Ready For The West Yorkshire Youth Games!
25th June 2009
Over 900 children from across the West Yorkshire will compete in the 11th annual Youth Games in Leeds at the weekend.
The youngsters have won the honour of representing their schools and regions in an exciting day of competition across eleven sports ranging from gymnastics and tennis to boccia and new age kurling.
Guests of honour are going to be young Leeds gymnasts Ashley Watson & Matthew Firth - both are in the British Gymnastics elite talent programme and expected to compete for their country 2012. Ashley and Matthew will be opening the games and will be on hand to share their experiences and advice with the participants.
Once again the West Yorkshire Youth Games will be held at Leeds Metropolitan University's Headingley Campus, this year's event will take place on Saturday June 27th 2009.
The West Yorkshire Youth Games is central fixture in the county’s sporting calendar and provides a great opportunity for young people to gain experience across a number of sports in a competitive but friendly atmosphere. Young athletes from all local authorities in the county – Bradford, Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield – will participate in their chosen sport.
The journey to Youth Games began at the beginning of the year when thousands of youngsters of all abilities – aged between six and sixteen - joined the early stages of the competitions through their schools. The selection and knockout procedures for each competition are within that sport’s National Governing Body's guidance – with the pinnacle being participation in the West Yorkshire Youth Games. Winners of certain competitions at this weekend’s event will go on to represent Yorkshire at the next stage.
The sports this year include tennis, cricket, rugby league, gymnastics, cheerleading, athletics, disability tag rugby, badminton, high-five netball, boccia and new age kurling.
Nigel Harrison, Director of West Yorkshire Sport which organises the event, said: “The West Yorkshire Youth Games is a great opportunity for young people to represent their district in a large scale multi-sport event, but more importantly is shows the positive effects competition in schools can bring to both team and individual sports.
"With memories of Beijing Olympic success still fresh and thoughts turning to the Games in London in 2012, these games are a perfect demonstration of how the greatness of our sporting talent is best nurtured in an atmosphere of friendly competition within, and between schools.
"The event is always an exciting and vibrant occasion demonstrating the best that sport can offer young people and also reminds us of the benefits of getting active and staying involved in sport.
"The event is not just a great day of sport for the competitors, it also gives the many volunteers a chance to share their experience and give something back to the world of sport. Without the dedication and enthusiasm of these often overlooked individuals, events like this simply couldn't take place."
Facts and Figures regarding the day -
There will be nearly 1000 young athletes between the ages of 4 and 16yrs taking part in the day.
Over 150 officials and volunteers will be present.
Over 400 spectators.
40 VIPs in attendance.