The event took place to thank those behind the success of the Games and to launch the UK School Games Champion Ambassadors programme.

 

The Champion Ambassadors programme will honour on an annual basis the outstanding performers from the UK School Games – many of whom will be tipped as competitors at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

Each Champion Ambassador will play an active role in contributing to the future development of the UK School Games and raise its profile as patrons, while meeting annually with Caborn to provide an insight into the event as part of the Athletes Commission.

 

Earlier in the day, the group also visited the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street (pictured).

 

From being the driving force behind the concept of the UK School Games to his current position of president of the multi-sport event for elite young athletes of school-age, Caborn has worked closely with organisers the Youth Sport Trust.

 

Caborn said: “I am both proud and delighted to be president of the UK School Games which is fast becoming the pinnacle of the school sport competitive calendar.

 

"The annual Games give Britain's best school-age athletes the opportunity to compete against each other - and show the rest of the country how talented they are. 

 

“The UK School Games Champion Ambassador programme recognises the performances of those outstanding athletes across each sport who will become role models for their peers, help champion this inspirational event and, we hope, go on to win medals at major elite events.

 

“I will also be using the UK School Games Champion Ambassador programme as a sounding board for the development of the UK School Games for the future.”                                                                                                                                

 

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has awarded £6 million to the Youth Sport Trust through Legacy Trust UK, to develop the UK School Games in Bristol and Bath in 2008 and each year until 2011.

 

Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport who also attended the reception, said: "What better way to learn or be inspired than by mixing with young, exceptional athletes who have achieved gold in an event you are hoping to compete in.

 

“By sharing experiences and a passion for sport, the Champion Ambassadors scheme will give young people across the UK the skills and the confidence they need to compete at their highest level."

 

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, who visited the athletes’ village at last year’s UK School Games in Coventry where she was a huge hit with youngsters of all ages and sports, believes the Champion Ambassadors scheme will be a massive success.

 

She said: “I think it’s always great for athletes to have someone who has been there and competed at the same event as them to look up to and act in a mentor role.

 

“While it is important for these athletes to have these ambassadors it is also a great opportunity for some of these youngsters to have their talent recognised and be given this responsibility.”

 

This year’s inaugural group of UK School Games Champion Ambassadors are a combination of gold medal winners from the 2006 Games in Glasgow along with those selected for their potential performance status in relation to London 2012. 

 

All 12 Champion Ambassadors represent the four home countries and a range of sports including Paralympic events.

 

It is expected that each ambassador will serve for between one and three years, with future nominations being made by the national governing bodies and Home Country Sports Councils, which will then be considered by the panel and each year worthy Champion will be invited to become an Ambassador. 

 

Later this year, record numbers of young athletes will compete at the 2008 UK School Games, when it is staged at four venues around Bath and Bristol from August 28 to 31.

 

The Games replicate a major adult multi-sport competition with an opening and closing ceremony plus an athlete’s village.

 

Alongside the new sport of hockey, competition will take place in badminton, judo, volleyball, athletics, fencing, gymnastics, swimming and table tennis, with disability events in athletics, swimming and table tennis also included.

 

The 12 2008 UK School Games Champion Ambassadors:

 

·  Athletics: Ashlee Nelson (England West Midlands)

 

2006 UK School Games 2 gold medals
2007 UK School Games 2 gold medals 

 

·  Athletics: Aled Davies (Wales)

 

UK School Games 2007 gold medallist
World Junior Record in ambulant shot put 

 

·  Athletics: Nathan Woodward (England West Midlands)

 

2006 UK School Games 1 gold medal 

 

·  Badminton: Tony Stephenson (Northern Ireland)

 

2007 UK School Games boys’ singles gold medallist 

 

·  Fencing: James Honeybone (England)

 

2006 UK School Games individual bronze and team gold medallist
2007 UK School Games individual and team gold medallist 

 

·  Gymnastics: Reiss Beckford (England)

 

2006 UK School Games: overall individual and team gold medallist 

 

·  Judo: Emma Imrie, (Scotland)

 

2007 UK School Games gold medallist (-52kg category) 

 

·  Swimming: Louisa Farrer-Fisher, (England South-West)

 

2006 UK School Games 4 times gold medallist
2007 UK School Games 4 times gold medals and one silver medal 

 

·  Swimming: Emma Wilkins (England Midlands)

 

2007 UK School Games gold medallist 

 

·  Table Tennis: Darius Knight (England South East)

 

2006 UK School Games boys’ singles and boys’ team bronze medallist
2007 UK School Games overall team gold medallist and boys’ singles and boys’ team silver medallist 

 

·  Table Tennis: Jack Pegram (England South East)

 

2007 UK School Games mixed wheelchair gold medallist 

 

·  Volleyball: Nathan French (England Midlands)

 

2007 UK School Games gold medallist

 

Picture Richard Lane/Sportsbeat Images