The Island’s National Sports Centre (NSC) was awash with colour this morning when 1,200 participants paraded onto the athletics track for the opening ceremony of the seventeenth Manx Youth Games.
Proceedings got underway with everyone taking part in a mass warm-up dance routine to Paloma Faith’s ‘Lullaby’.
Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Graham Cregeen MHK, declared the games open in front of all the participants and a packed grandstand of spectators, including the Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Sir Richard Gozney and Chief Minister, Howard Quayle MHK.
The Minister took to opportunity to thank all of the participants, volunteers and parents for their hard work, time and effort in making the games the success they have become.
The Minister said:
'Today the Manx Youth Games will provide an experience for young people that they will cherish for the rest of their lives and hopefully encourage them to continue enjoying their sport by joining a local community club.
'In front of us I am sure we will have future Island champions, Island Games champions, Commonwealth Games competitors and indeed possible Olympians. But the most important thing is that every young person taking part today will enjoy the occasion and appreciate being healthy and active.'
The Manx Youth Games is part of Government’s efforts to support and encourage more people, to be more active, more often. The Games also offers opportunities for much needed new coaches, officials and volunteers.
The games sees five teams will be made up of competitors from the North, South, East, West, Douglas North and Onchan, and Douglas South and Braddan competing in twelve sports:
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Crown green bowls
- Girls football
- Hockey
- Netball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Tag rugby
- Special educational needs football
The Minister concluded his remarks by wishing everyone the best of luck and thanking HSBC for its continued support.
