UK Sport

UK School Games 2009

Gold for International Inspiration young leaders in Cardiff

British Council

Young people from 13 countries, including the UK, attended the 2009 UK School Games in Cardiff last week under the International Inspiration programme.

The British Council, alongside UK Sport, UNICEF and LOCOG, is one of the lead agencies delivering International Inspiration, with the programme forming a key strand of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy to engage and inspire the youth of the world through sport.

The 48-strong group of young leaders were especially selected to attend the Games in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea. Managed by the Youth Sport Trust, the UK School Games are a multi-sport event for elite young athletes of school age and includes opening and closing ceremonies and an athletes’ village to replicate the environment of a major sporting event, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This year’s event in South Wales featured 1,600 athletes competing across ten sports.

The group consisted of two young people from each of the 12 countries currently involved in International Inspiration (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, India, Jordan, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palau, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia); and young leaders from more than 20 schools from across the UK which have school links with the International Inspiration countries.

Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis who met the young leaders at the Games in her role as an ambassador for the International Inspiration programme, said:

“The young leaders selected to represent their country to volunteer at the UK School Games have demonstrated excellent leadership and volunteering skills in organising sporting activities and events in their own schools and communities and the time they spent in South Wales will stand them in even greater stead for the future.”

Volunteering at the UK School Games was a fantastic opportunity for the young leaders to receive training and experience in leadership, volunteering, child protection and welfare, national governing body accreditation, event management, press operations and athlete support, while also improving their understanding of the cultures of each International Inspiration country, sharing experiences, developing relationships and formulating action plans to use their new skills and expertise back in their home country.

“This was a totally new experience which I would never forget. I love experiencing these kinds of training and volunteering” said Sunayana Jain, one of the young leaders from India.

Masiliso Mutongo, one of the Zambian young leaders said - “It was a great experience. I have realised that we come from many backgrounds or countries but we live in the same world and share the same dream and that is inspiring others to choose sport.”

Speaking of the meeting with Denise, Samira Husseynova from Azerbaijan commented: “The Games have been so much more than I ever expected. I can't believe we got to meet Denise Lewis!! She was very inspiring. I'll never forget it.”

Justice Opoku from Ghana said: “This is an experience that every young growing child and adult needs to boost their confidence about what their aspirations are in life.”