Kent School Games - 30,000 Youngsters Striving for Sporting Glory

Whilst the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games is still a few months away, almost 30,000 school children throughout Kent are already taking part in local competitions as part of the first ever Kent School Games. The School Games mirror the format of the Olympics and Paralympics, using the ‘magic dust’ of the Games to provide a fantastic and inspirational experience to young people from all walks of life, in what will be the largest competitive school sport event ever staged in Kent and probably in the UK.

The Games is already revelling in its success as, by the end of February 2008, 175 of the 515 scheduled local heats had already taken place and over 400 schools had taken part in the Games. When the local heats finish in May and the opening ceremony for the finals takes place on the 14 June 2008, almost 5,000 finalists will be competing across 23 sports for 1,200 medals. When the Games finish at the end of June it will create history as the first event of its kind in the country. It will mark a proud achievement for all involved and another great result for Kent.

The Games is a Kent County Council initiative and is being developed through a partnership involving School Sport Partnerships, Specialist Sports Colleges and governing bodies of sport. Organisers are also very proud to be associated with P&O Ferries as the headline sponsors of the event and are very grateful for their support.

For more information on the Kent School Games visit www.kentsport.org/schoolgames