Manx Youth Games Opening Ceremony speech

Your Excellency, Lady Gozney, your Worshipful the Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Chief Minister, Ministers, Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls.

On behalf of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture welcome to the 17th Manx Youth Games event here at the National Sports Centre.

Today the Manx Youth Games will provide an experience for all these 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 that being healthy and active is a wonderful thing!

The MYG also delivers very well against the Programme for Government to work with partners to provide sports opportunities for more people to be active more often. The Games also offers opportunities for much needed new coaches, officials and volunteers.

Since January sports have been attracting hundreds of young people to weekly training sessions delivered by voluntary enthusiastic, qualified coaches across twelve sports. We are very grateful for the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of the coaches and volunteers who help make the Manx Youth Games a success, indeed without them we wouldn't have a Games so a big thank you!

Also a very big thank you to HSBC for their continued involvement, on behalf of my Department your support is very much appreciated.

Good luck to everyone who is taking part in the 2018 Manx Youth Games, have lots of fun and all your hard work will be rewarded with a day to remember!