Charity announces return of School Games National Finals

Children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust has announced the return of The School Games National Finals, the UK’s biggest youth multi-sport event, next month after a three-year break. 
 
Despite the challenges Covid has presented for the youth sport sector, the Youth Sport Trust which is behind the event said 1,300 young athletes will return to the School Games National Finals on 2 September. It is thanks to funding from the National Lottery through Sport England, and the commitment of coaches, National Governing Bodies of Sport, British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association, and athletes themselves.  
 
The event will run over four days at Loughborough University and will ensure young people aspiring to compete at the likes of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics experience a multi-sport event and receive wellbeing support on their journey. It has proven to be a key steppingstone in the careers of Team GB Olympic heroes including Adam Peaty and Dina Asher-Smith. 
 
Steps that have been taken to ensure the School Games National Finals will be Covid safe in a post pandemic world include the appointment of one of Wimbledon 2021’s team doctors Natasha Beach, working with local public health officials, testing and temperature checks for all athletes and event staff on site, social distancing and athlete bubbles, spectators replaced with live streams of the action, and mask wearing. 
 
Dr Natasha Beach, Chief Medical Officer for this year’s School Games National Finals, said: “I am really excited to have joined the School Games National Finals event team. I am looking forward to leading the development of the protocols in place to ensure that all the young athletes who will compete in just a few weeks’ time have the best and safest experience possible. Having worked as a Covid medical officer at events like The Hundred, Vitality Netball Super League and Wimbledon Junior Qualifying, it is great to see the innovation from the world of sport that is taking place as we come out of the pandemic and get back to competition.”
 
Young people will compete in 10 sports across the event, four of which include disability competition. The sports are Athletics, BMX, Cycling, Triathlon, Hockey, Netball, Laser Run, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis and Girls Cricket.