Counting down to the Olympics

Counting down to the Olympics

Published On: Monday 18 July 2011

Sports Festival this weekend

Local sports clubs will gather this weekend in St.Helens to take part in one of the largest multi sports events to take place in the borough’s sporting history.

The St.Helens Sports Festival, being held at Ruskin Drive, has been planned to coincide with the start of the one-year countdown to the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012.

The London 2012 Organising Committee, recognising the Festivals links to the Olympics and Paralympics, has awarded it the prestigious Inspire Mark.

The two-day festival at Ruskin Drive Sports Ground has been co ordinated by St.Helens Council’s Sports Development Team, working with the sports clubs who are based on the site. The event which has been twelve months in the planning will include competitions in Football, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Tennis, Cricket Bowls and Rounders. The football tournaments alone have over 100 teams registered to play including a team of Junior Footballers from the borough’s partner town Stuttgart in Germany.

Councillor Barrie Grunewald, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, Communications and Town Centre said:  “The Sports Festival is part of the boroughs comprehensive events programme that runs throughout the year. This weekend will highlight the vast numbers of people in the borough who regularly participate in sport. I would personally like to put on record my appreciation for the countless hours of work put in by the volunteer organisers from the sports clubs without which this event would not take place.”