Press release 28 August 2008

The UK’s next generation of elite young athletes will gather for a multi-sport event designed to replicate the feel of an Olympic and Paralympic Games next week, joined by fifteen young volunteers from Azerbaijan, Brazil, India, Palau and Zambia.

Organised and run by the Youth Sport Trust and the British Council, the UK School Games take place over four-days and involve 1,500 participants from across the UK. The competitions will cover nine different sports: athletics, badminton, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, swimming, table tennis and volleyball with disability events in athletics, swimming and table tennis.

Two young leaders from Azerbaijan, Brazil, India, Palau and Zambia and their chaperones have also been awarded the opportunity to volunteer at the UK School Games by the International Inspiration programme, an initiative that uses the power of sport to transform the lives of millions of children and young people in developing countries.

British Council Sports advisor, Darren Coyle said “This is a cultural exchange where international young people will have fantastic opportunity to learn more about different sports, how to organise an important national event and most valuably, personally develop through sport and interaction with young people, from the UK, as part of the volunteering team.”

This will mark their first visit to the UK and the international participants have received leadership and volunteering training hosted by the British Council, they will be touring the highlights of London, before heading out to the UK School Games in Bristol and Bath.