Youngsters ensure Olympic spirit burns brightly (From Malvern Gazette)

Youngsters ensure Olympic spirit burns brightly

8:00am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

MORE than 1,000 youngsters came together for a day of sport at the Worcestershire Winter Sainsbury’s School Games.

It was part of a three-year United Kingdom programme designed to get more youngsters involved in sport following the London Olympics.

Representatives from governing bodies for badminton, netball, hockey and rugby, as we ll as the Worcestershire Football Association, were in attendance to find the stars of tomorrow.

Catering for both able-bodied and disabled competitors the games were heralded a success.

The event was supported by 200 volunteers who received special training for a range of roles, including team leaders and an on-site media team.

The Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire part-funded and helped with the Games' organisation.

The youngsters represented both their school and district with the county divided into Redditch, North Worcestershire, Droitwich and Worcester City, South Worcestershire, Worcestershire West and Wyre Forest.

Partnership director Stephen Brewster said: “I get to sit in lots of meetings talking about sport but it’s days like this that you actually get to see young people running around and doing sport, which is what we are here to do. It’s fantastic.

“Sport needs to be something that’s postitive in their lives and not a chore. For me, it gives them a sound basis for adult life.”

Among the highlights for Malvern schools were successes in the cross-country.

Ellen Wikeley from The Chase came in first for the year seven girls, followed by Ellen Johnson from Hanley Castle High. In badminton the key stage four girls winners were from Malvern St James, while year nine girls from that school were triumphant in netball.

The inaugural games took place at last summer at Bromsgrove School.