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Norfolk Summer School Games – Day 1

Today saw the launch of the 2014 Norfolk Summer School Games. The Summer Games follows on from the successful Winter Games which was held in March and saw thousands of young people pupils compete in a variety of different winter sports. The Norfolk School Games is part of the national Sainsbury’s School Games initiative and aims to encourage more young people to tale part in competitive school sport.

The Summer Games will see an additional 2500 pupils representing their School Sport Partnership (SSP) in a variety of different county finals in summer sports including; athletics, angling,  basketball, netball, hockey and tri golf. All of the pupils taking part in the finals have qualified to represent their SSP by taking part in local qualifying events. During the 2013/14 academic year it is estimated that over 20,000 young people will take part in a School Games qualifying event in Norfolk.

Day 1 of the Summer Games included a Playground2Podium Festival which targeted pupils with a special educational need or a disability (SEND). The festival aimed to enable more young people to be able to represent their school in a fun sporting event and to inspire them to remain engaged with PE and school sport at their school in the future.

Pupils at the event were given the opportunity to take part in a carousel of activities including; wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, boccia, tennis, goalball and cricket. All activities were delivered by coaches from local sports clubs and organisations who are experienced with working with young people with a range of needs.

Kira Adams a pupil from City Academy Norwich who attended the festival said;

“My favourite [activity] was Wheelchair Basketball because it was easy, fun, awesome and pretty cool. I also liked Sitting Volleyball because it was fun playing it and I totally had fun in Goalball because you have to be blindfolded so you know what it feels like to be blind. Thank you.”

Her teacher Miss Hansell also commented;

“The pupils who have attended the festivak have definitely embraced the experience and the positive comments and enthusiasm demonstrated on returning to school highlights the value of such an event.”

You can view photographs of Day 1 of the Games by visiting the Norfolk School Games instaproofs site where you can also purchase copies of the photographs as a memento of taking part in the Games.

The Norfolk Summer School Games continues on Monday when pupils from across the County will compete in Sailing and Cycling finals at Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre. The events will see pupils that have qualified to represent their SSP compete to be crowned School Games champions.

You can keep up to date with all of the action from the Games via social media by following @NorfolkSchGames on Twitter or by liking “Norfolk School Games” on Facebook.