Schools urged to take on Olympic challenge

Buy photos » Katie Edwards, Daniel Jarrett, John Paul and Jenny Burns, all 16, prepare for The School Games. Picture by Nick Hands 5011008NHR

AS THE countdown begins to this year's London games, the gauntlet is being thrown down to schools across Redditch to enter the county's own answer to the Olympics.

The School Games, for children aged between three and 13, is aimed at including as many young people as possible in the sports on offer, regardless of their ability and background.

Local competitions will take place throughout the year in a variety of activities - from football and golf to dance and wheelchair basketball.

The best school teams and individuals will then be selected to take part in a Worcestershire School Games, which is being held at Bromsgrove School in June - a month before the London Olympics gets underway.

Ahead of the events across the borough, a rallying call has been made to schools by Karen Pearson, who is the school games organiser for Redditch and a key driver behind the School Games, for people to get behind the event and create a meaningful sporting legacy Redditch could be proud of.

"It is not just about competition, but using the games to promote and encourage other areas including cross-curricular activities, school club links, health, disability sport, leadership and volunteering," she said.

“Access to regular and appropriate competitive sport is crucial to the development of every young person.

"The School Games is a great tool to achieve this for the schools and young people in the area and so by working with key partners such as Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District Councils, the County Sports Partnership and National Governing Bodies, we are able to make this happen."

She added she recognised the benefits sport and physical activity could bring to young people and added she hoped the new programme for school sport would engage more pupils in competition and promote self-confidence, self-esteem and enjoyment within sport.

For more on the School Games, call Karen Pearson on 07900 505227 or e-mail: kpearson@arrowvale.worcs.sch.uk