The initiative, which was launched by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Education Secretary Michael Grove, will see up to £10 million ($15 million) of lottery funding distributed by Sport England to create a new sports league structure for primary and secondary schools.

The scheme, which was first proposed by the Conservatives last year, will see schools compete against each other in leagues at a
local level from 2011 with winning athletes and teams qualifying for up to 60 county finals.

The initiative will build on the success of the Sainsbury’s UK School Games which were inaugurated in 2006 in Glasgow.

This 2010 edition of the Sainsbury’s UK School Games, the first UK School Games to have the superstore giants as the title sponsor, will take place from September 2 until 5 this year in the North East in venues across Gateshead, Newcastle and Sunderland.

Emms, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, has been in the Gateshead this week to promote the event by hosting a master class badminton session for young competitors in the region, backed the new school Olympics idea and claimed that she supports any initiatives to get children more involved in sport.

Emms, who gave birth her first child earlier this year, said: "I think it is really important to get children involved in sport as much as possible and I was very pleased to see the new Government launch a scheme to get children playing Olympic and Paralympic sports on a regular basis.



"Sport has so many transferable skills to teach children and it is not just about beating other people, it is about getting enjoyment out of it and being the best you can be.

"Its obviously fantastic if we can find the sporting stars of the future through school sports competitions but the main goal is to get people playing sport regularly and enjoying it.

"It is a really important time for sport in this country because the London 2012 Games are not just about London, they are about the whole country and inspiring every child in it.

"Having competed at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008, I know how an Olympic Games can grip a nation and inspire everyone to take part in sport and that is why it is the perfect time to invest in sport and get as many children playing it as possible."

Emms added that she is delighted to help promote the 2010 Sainsbury’s UK School Games and glad to be able to pass on some of her vast knowledge to promising young badminton players in the North East.

She said: "It was great to be in the North East helping to promote the Sainsbury’s UK School Games and I hope sessions like today leave a lasting legacy in the area.

"I have always admired the North East for its enthusiasm towards sport and I really enjoyed meeting these young players today.

"Hopefully they have learnt something from me that will help them to go on to future success."

Emma Saunders, commercial manager at Sainsbury’s Alnwick and a qualified badminton coach, said: "What a fantastic opportunity this was for myself and my colleagues to have badminton coaching from Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms and Mike Woodward from Badminton England.

"I’m proud to work for a company that is passionate about encouraging young people to be healthy and active and by supporting the 2010 UK School Games we’re really showing our commitment to this agenda."

Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Linda Green added: "Gateshead continues to reinforce its status as European City of Sport 2010 by providing a fantastic platform for the development of sports by holding events such as the Sainsbury’s UK School Games North East England 2010.

"We are not only helping to nurture future talent but, with the presence of Olympian’s such as Gail Emms, providing inspiration for residents to get active and healthy; a central aim of Gateshead Council."

For more information on the 2010 Sainsbury’s UK School Games click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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