Dawlish set for huge games final!

The region’s largest youth sports event is set for Dawlish next weekend with 100os expected to descend on the town for a day of sport, activities, food, entertainment and one or two well-known names.

The South West Rotary Youth Games will take place at Dawlish Leisure Centre and surrounding sites on Saturday 7 July with young people from across Devon and Cornwall representing their area teams in 14 sports.

Organisers have promised a real family festival feel to the event, which is celebrating its 20th edition this year. The event is free to enter with loads of activities for all ages, culminating in a giant screen showing the World Cup quarter-final from 3pm.

The Games Village is the event hub, including food stalls and exhibitors from around the region and free activities such as bubble football, dodgeball, archery, ultimate frisbee and tennis for the all the family. Newton Abbot Town Crier Nigel Kenneison will keep people fully updated on the latest results from the site.

The main stage will be occupied by Radio Exe and presenter Chris Dinnis, who will present the Opening Ceremony at 9:30am. Local bands Black Conterfeit and Mania will also perform sets before the stage is cleared and crowds settle on hay bales and watch the World Cup on a five metre screen from 3pm

The Leisure Centre will offer swimming for free on the day and there is also the opportunity to take part in the One Mile Family Fun Run, open to all ages with a superb medal for all finishers.

GB cyclist Lauren Dolan and England rugby internationals Poppy Leitch, Hollie Cunningham and Jess Thomas will be among the special guests on the day.
Other activities include free Bowls taster sessions at the nearby club, Skateboarding and bouncy castles. It is also a spectator friendly event and young teams from across the South West will be battling it out for gold in cricket, rugby, football, triathlon, cyclocross, ability sports, badminton, hockey, basketball, gymnastics and dance.

West Devon are the current defending overall champions, but after BMX, scootering, skateboarding, netball and indoor rowing events earlier this year, host area Teignbridge are heading the leaderboard going into the final weekend.

Chris Broadbent, Chief Executive of the event hosts, said: “The Games have always been one of the region’s best kept secrets, this year we are broadening our appeal so we are Devon and Cornwall’s best family sports day out.

“There will be keen competition, but so much more on a packed day for the family and the best thing is that it is free. Please come along and enjoy the full day leading right up to the World Cup quarter final on the big screen from 3pm.”

The day gets underway from 9am through the conclusion of the World Cup match in the early evening. Parking is available at nearby Dawlish Community College.

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