Next year’s Sainsbury’s School Games in Norfolk, supported by Sportspark, is set to build on the huge success of previous years, thanks to £45,000 of National Lottery funding.
The local organising committee for Norfolk – has been awarded the funding from Sport England to deliver the School Games this year. Norfolk Summer and Winter Games will be the culmination of year-round competitions within School Sport Partnerships, with winners progressing to compete across more than 30 sports including athletics, wheelchair basketball, hockey, sitting volleyball and badminton.
The Norfolk School Games enters its third year with the largest calendar of competition to date. Qualifying and county final competitions will see 15,000 young people from primary and secondary schools taking part building on the 10,000 that competed last year. The 2014 School Games sees the inclusion of such sports as sailing and cycling for the first time giving young people a chance to learn and compete in sports they otherwise have had the opportunity to.
Continuing the legacy of the Paralympic Games, this year’s School Games will be the most inclusive yet with more competition for young people from Special Schools and those with a special educational need or disability from mainstream schools. Competitions include sitting volleyball, boccia and goalball.
Qualifying competitions are underway in the 8 School Sports Partnerships in the county with schools battling it out to qualify for the Norfolk Winter School Games which takes place from the 7th-14th March and the Norfolk Summer School Games which will take place between the 30th June and 4th July. These Festivals of sport will include opening and closing ceremonies, demonstration sport areas
Minister for Sport, Helen Grant said:
“The School Games competition is giving young people of all abilities the chance to get involved and play a variety of sports. This National Lottery funding from Sport England going to the Sainsbury’s School Games Festivals will mean that next year’s festivals will be bigger and better than previous years and inspire more young people to get involved.”
Stephen Hulme, School Games Project Manager said:
The Norfolk School Games continues to grow and develop, engaging more young people participating in more competitive sports across the county. This is the most inclusive games to date and will see a wide range of opportunities for all young people to reach their personal best.
For more information on how to get involved in the School Games and results and photos from last year’s Games visit www.norfolkschoolgames.co.uk