Richard Caborn MP, Chair of the Millennium Commission and Minister for Sport, said:
"Bidding to host the UK School Games is a fantastic opportunity for cities across the United Kingdom to take part in and promote school sport on a national stage. It will be a chance for them to highlight the benefits their city can bring to running big sporting events. I encourage cities to get involved and bid to host what will become the pinnacle of the school sport competitive calendar."
The UK School Games will replicate the feel of major multi-sport events such as the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or the Commonwealth Games. The first School Games will be held in Glasgow from 7th to 10th September 2006 with support from the Lottery funded Millennium Commission and will feature 1,200 athletes taking part in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, table tennis and fencing, plus disability events in athletics and swimming. Competitors will experience an Opening and Closing ceremony, medals and accommodation in a school games village. It is hoped that the number of athletes and sports will grow each year.
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Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:
"The UK School Games will showcase some of our finest young athletes, those young men and women who could go on to represent the UK on the world stage. This is an excellent build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Never before has there been such opportunity for cities and communities across the country to harness the power of sport."
Cities across the UK are invited to bid for the 2007 School Games by 14th August 2006 and for the 2008-11 School Games by 16th October 2006. The cost of hosting the School Games in the winning cites will be partly met from a charitable trust, which is being established by Lottery Distributors and the Government.
The Chancellor announced in his Budget that he would provide £6m for the UK School Games and the Lottery Distributors will also provide a further £29m for the Trust, which will support a range of cultural and sporting initiatives in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
The guidance notes, which include the criteria against which applications will be judged, can be downloaded from the Millennium Commission's website (www.millennium.gov.uk/news). It is hoped that the location of the 2007 School Games will be announced at the closing ceremony of the UK School Games in Glasgow on 10th September, with the 2008-2011 cities being announced later in the year.
