Sun shines on Devon Games to Inspire 2013

On the hottest day of the year so far, magnificent venues, palm trees and the blue waters of the English Riviera provided the perfect backdrop to a day of sport on Sunday at the 2013 Devon Games to Inspire, held at numerous venues across Torbay. The waterfront location and direct access to the sea provided an opportunity for organisers to add sailing and a sea-swim triathlon to the competition for the first time in the Games' history.

Sporting Champion and London 2012 Diver Sarah Barrow opened the event and took a tour of the competitions offering inspiration and advice to the competing young athletes before flying out to the World Diving Championships. The ceremony was closed by professional mountain bike athlete Andrei Burton, who led a World Record attempt at the most Party Poppers popped simultaneously. Teignbridge were announced winners at the closing ceremony, with Torbay in second place and Exeter & East Devon in third, with Exeter and East Devon also taking home the ‘Fair Play’ trophy.

Andrei Burton said “It was a great event for the Andrei Burton Events Team to be involved in. It's not just about mainstream sports and it gives everyone a chance to push themselves as well as meet people from across Devon. The day was fantastic.”

As part of the Sainsbury’s School Games Devon Festival of Sport it is one of the largest junior sporting and cultural events in the County's calendar, attracting nearly 1000 young participants, over 200 young volunteers and their families and friends.

The Games have been taking place in Devon for 13 years and are hosted each year by a different Local Authority, allowing an opportunity for different activities to take place and providing a showcase for Devon’s high quality sports venues.

Sailing and Triathlon were not the only new sports introduced this year, teams of young people from all across the County also competed in Bowls, Boccia, Dance Mats, Golf and Table Cricket for the first time. As well as the sports competitions other activities were on offer to visitors in ‘Avego’ Avenue – including arts and crafts, music, taster sports from local clubs and fun activities.

The event always provided an opportunity for young volunteers from Devon’s schools, colleges and universities to play a major part, with many of the officiating duties being carried out by the 200+ young sports leaders present on the day.

The event was hosted by Torbay Council; organised by the Council and Active Devon and was supported by the RAF Careers and Outreach team, Devon County Council, RELAYS, Devon Local Authorities, local Sports Clubs and coaches, Youth organisations and a number of Sport’s National Governing Bodies in addition to well as the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England.

The festival is one of more than 60 regional Sainsbury’s School Games festivals that are taking place across the country this summer that are encouraging more young people to participate in competitive school sport.

The Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games is supported by a range of partners including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, Department of Health and British Paralympic Association.

For further information about how schools can become involved in the School Games go to www.yourschoolgames.com