By: Cardiff county council
Cardiff Council has submitted a bid to stage the UK Schools Sport Games.
The annual games, which began this year in Glasgow, are made up of 12 to 15 sports, including swimming, athletics and gymnastics, for up to 1,500 competitors aged 15 to 18.
The games create an environment designed to replicate the feel of major events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games and form part of a wider profile of sporting and cultural events to be delivered across the UK leading up to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
The Millennium Commission has appointed the UK Youth Sport Trust (YST) to organise the games and they are now seeking applications for cities willing to host the Games between 2008 and 2011.
The South Wales city region bid has been prepared in conjunction with Swansea and Newport Councils, as well as the Welsh Assembly Government and Sports Council for Wales, with Cardiff Council as the lead partner. If successful the games would be held in South Wales in either 2009 or 2011.
Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said: "The UK Schools Sport Games is an important opportunity to build upon Cardiff's status as an Olympic venue
to ensure that Cardiff and Wales achieves maximum benefits from the London 2012 Games and its legacy.
"A very important aspect for Cardiff will be the extent to which sporting events can be concentrated in and around the city to replicate the feel of a major sporting event and to foster a 'community spirit' amongst athletes, supporting staff and officials."
He added: "We are confident that we have submitted a strong bid and look forward to working with the Youth Sports Trust to deliver the games in South Wales."
Sports Minister Alun Pugh said: "I want to increase participation in sport and physical activity amongst children and young people, to give the best opportunities for young people to perform and participate at the highest level.
"It is an opportunity for Wales to play its part in the build up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The Games will provide the platform for some of our younger elite performers to compete on a national level against the best competitors from around the UK and to be a part of a major multi-sport event environment.
"The Games also provide us with an opportunity to showcase the world class facilities that we have on offer in Wales for example the National Pool and the National Velodrome and to demonstrate again our ability in Wales to stage major events".
Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Gerald Clement said: "Getting the games to South Wales will raise our region's profile on the sporting stage, as well as inspiring local youngsters.
"Swansea is equipped with some excellent facilities of an international standard- including the Wales National Pool, the Liberty Stadium and the facilities at Sports Village, and, with our partners in Cardiff and Newport, we are sure this bid is a real contender"
Leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Bob Bright, said: "The Games give our most promising young athletes the chance to test themselves against the best competitors in their age groups from across the UK.
"They are an important stepping stone in the country's build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and, with our partners Cardiff and Swansea, I am sure we would deliver a first-class event."
For media information contact:
Steve Edwards
Senior Press Officer
Fax: 029 2087 2499
Email: mediabrief@cardiff.gov.uk
Source: Cardiff county council
