Schools athletes converge in West

By Jess Dennis, BBC Bristol Blast reporter

Adlington will open the UK School Games with Jason Gardner

As Beijing fever is dying down, sport is still top of the agenda for Bristol and Bath's potential future Olympians.

This weekend sees the UK School Games come to the cities, where 1500 school-age participants will take part in a competition that mirrors the Olympics with an athlete's village and its own opening and closing ceremonies.

Children from all over the South West will vie for the top spot in hockey, badminton, gymnastics, judo, swimming, volleyball, table tennis, fencing and athletics.

The games will be opened by UK School Games ambassador Jason Gardener and double Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Rebecca Adlington at The Recreation Ground in Bath.

Youth Sport Trust chief executive Steve Grainger hopes that the games will give the young athletes some experience of competing at a major event and expects four great days of competition.

If I had experienced an opening ceremony and being in an athletes village a bit sooner it wouldn't have been so overwhelming in Beijing Double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington

"Many of these youngsters have been to national and international championships in their own sport but very few of them have competed in multi-sport environments where there are pressures of being around athletes from other sports."

Adlington has urged participants to enjoy the event. "The Olympic Games were the first time I've been to an opening and closing ceremony, it's good to have media around you and to get used to the cameras being there and being comfortable."

She feels attending an event like this while she was a young athlete may have helped her in her Olympic preparation.

"If I had experienced an opening ceremony and being in an athletes village a bit sooner it wouldn't have been so overwhelming in Beijing."

Gardener believes this event shows the country that the West Country is passionate about its sport.

"It goes to show that we are keen to develop our most talented school-age children."

In the lead-up to the Games, Gardener's role as ambassador has seen him involved with local schools in the Bristol, Bath and Somerset areas. As well as aiming to inspire children to take part in sport, Gardener has been working with some of the most talented children sharing his experiences as a professional athlete.

The University of the West of England has been chosen as the venue to host the badminton and hockey competitions boasting world class facilities such as an Olympic-standard hockey pitch and a ventilation system in the badminton hall to ensure no shuttle interference.

Other venues include the University of Bath (athletics, fencing, table tennis and volleyball), Filton College (gymnastics and judo) and Millfield School (swimming).