Wrexham Schools Step Up for National Sports Week

An exciting series of sports events will take place across Wrexham this week as the National School Sports Week takes hold.

It is estimated over 10,000 local children will participate in the sporting celebration which aims to generate interest in sport and physical activity for pupils of all ages.

Pupils from St Christopher’s School kicked off the week by holding an Olympic themed opening ceremony which featured their very own torch bearer Muhammed Ullah.

Children there will enjoy a week of school based sporting activities centred around the Olympic and Paralympic values of friendship, courage, equality, determination, excellence, respect and inspiration. Activities range from Literacy Olympics, an afternoon of obscure sports from around the world and a sponsored Hoola-thon.

The nationwide campaign runs until Friday and attracts almost 14,000 schools and five million children from across the UK, encouraging them to take part and enjoy sporting activities particularly in an Olympic year.

The sporting fun continued with over 200 pupils from Hafod y Wern , St Anne’s and Gwenfro primary schools welcoming the start of School Sports Week by sampling different sports including archery, athletics, badminton and handball at Queensway Stadium. Qualified coaches were on hand to lead the sessions and promote regular sporting opportunities in Wrexham.

The ‘Going for Gold’ day which was hosted by Caia Park Health Team and Wrexham Council’s Sports Development team aimed to develop the confidence of young people and encourage their interest to take part in physical activity on a regular basis.

Bethan Hughes, Active Young People Manager at Wrexham Council said: “National School Sport Week bolsters our existing programme of getting every child in Wrexham hooked on sport for life. Thousands of local children will get the opportunity this week to take part in sport and celebrate their achievements in the run up to London 2012.

“The week is not only for young people but for their parents, carers, grandparents and siblings to encourage each other to take advantage of the physical activity opportunities available on our doorstep; whether that be taking a walk in the park, joining the junior section of your local sports club or participating in free swimming at your nearest pool.”