A sporting festival taking place in Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast led by Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, is set to showcase 8 sports from the Commonwealth Games to 160 local P7 children from a cross section of schools. The Commonwealth Sports Festival aims to bring children from all sections of the community together through sport, encourage them to participate in something new as well as inspire and nurture their potential sporting talent, which could put them on the road to compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games which will be hosted in Belfast during 2021.
The Commonwealth Sports Festival will not only provide children with the opportunity to try out sports such as basketball, badminton, boxing and triathlon – to name but a few, but will provide them with the opportunity to meet with coaches and athletes who are in training for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Festival will also showcase the NICGC teenage volunteer programme which will provide young people with the opportunity to show leadership and be positive role models to the children taking part.
Patron of Commonwealth Games Council, Dame Mary Peters, said:
“ It is critically important that we provide as much encouragement and access to sports to not only inspire and nurture the talents of our young people but to bring them together through sport and that is why events such as The Commonwealth Sports Festival are essential. It is a fantastic opportunity to support and encourage local school children to access and try out some of the Commonwealth sports as well as have the opportunity to engage with coaches and athletes. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the festival helps to inspire a future Youth Games or Commonwealth Games athlete !”
Conal Heatley, Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, added:
“Bringing young people together and providing opportunities through sport has always been a high priority within the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council. The Commonwealth Sports Festival is a great opportunity for local school children to try out something new, hear from the experts as well as find out how they can get more involved. It is also a great platform to showcase local teenage volunteers as providing leadership and role models especially as part of the Commonwealth Youth Games Belfast 2021Legacy Programme.”
Supporting the event Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston, said:
“Belfast City Council is keen to support initiatives which give our citizens opportunities to be healthier and more active. And as a runner myself, I appreciate firsthand the benefits that sporting activity can bring. The young people who are participating in this Commonwealth Sports Festival are benefiting from greater wellbeing, they’re experiencing the camaraderie of team training and competition and they’re striving to achieve the very best in their fields. I’d like to wish them every success.”
For further information visit www.belfast2021.com and follow Belfast 2021 ‘on the road’ to the VII Commonwealth Youth Games on Instagram, Facebook and twitter @Belfast2021
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