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Many happy returns for the Youth Games

Trevor Baxter
5/ 7/2008

GARY Neville took some of his first sporting steps to stardom at the Greater Manchester Youth Games.

So the United and England defender is happy to join the 20th anniversary celebrations for this multi-cultural, sporting festival of youth taking place on July 12.

Indeed, since Neville competed for Bury, sport now shares top billing with dance, music and art events.

However, Neville's interest lies in one direction and he says: "Sport has always been such a massive part of my life; not just in football but across loads of sports which I took part in from a young age.

"And having taken part in the Games a number of years ago, it's great to see this fantastic celebration of sport, reaching its 20th anniversary.

"For everyone involved in the `I Love Me' Greater Manchester Youth Games this year, give it your best, get involved and be proud to be part of something that, like me, you will remember for the rest of lives."

United team-mate Wes Brown is another Games old boy. Unlike Neville, though, he represented Manchester Schools at basketball.

Stockport's Kate Walsh is gearing up for the Beijing Olympic Games. But Walsh began her hockey career at the Youth Games back in 1995 while England netball internationals Tracey Neville and Karen Aspinall are also former Games competitors.

However, while this year's Games, for which MEN Media is official media partner, is celebrating a notable birthday, they will also mark the end of an era.

They will return in 2009 but in a new format, designed to mirror the changing demands on youth sport.

Indeed, the 21st staging of the event, featuring teams from the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, will introduce a more competitive element to proceedings.

However, the Games are already the biggest, stand alone, multi-sport event of its kind outside London.

For the first time, Wright Robinson Sports College has been included as a competition venue.

The Abbey Hey site will host, cricket, netball, football (YPD), judo, table tennis plus cheerleading and a dance master class.

Sportcity - venue for athletics, badminton, basketball, tennis and the popular `young reporters' competition - plus Belle Vue (volleyball, rugby union and hockey) and Manchester Aquatics Centre (water polo) will also host activities.

And while the Games are not officially part of Manchester's World Sport 08 extravaganza, they do serve as an important stepping stone for future sporting stars.

"World and Olympic champions must start somewhere," agrees Chris Brindley, chair of Greater Manchester Sports Partnership.

"Without events such as the Youth Games, children may not have the chance to compete that could not only inspire them to stay active for life, but inspire them to develop into world class athletes."

Richard Saunders, chief executive Greater Sport, adds: "In one way or another, I have been involved in the event every year and every year it surpasses my expectation."

To find out more about the Games, log on to celebrate thegames.com

We would also like to hear your Youth Games memories, so contact us via manchester eveningnews.co.uk