Jim Wallace gets Youth Games off its marks

Friday 3 May 2002

The 2002 BAA Scottish Airports Youth Games, supported by sportscotland and Scotland's local authorities, officially got off its marks this week when Jim Wallace, MSP for Orkney and Deputy First Minister, stopped off at Edinburgh Airport to meet sportscotland Youth Sport mascot, Andi, and some young participants.

"The Games philosophy of placing as much emphasis on participation as winning, reinforces all the positive aspects of being physically active..."

The Games take place in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and attract more than 5000 participants from local authorities the length and breadth of Scotland. The Games unique emphasis on participation complements existing local and national championships, where the focus is generally on elite performers, by providing sports leaders with an opportunity enter large teams with a broad range of abilities, giving the chance for as many young people as possible to experience the thrill of a major sporting event.

Alastair Dempster, sportscotland Chairman, said: "The Games philosophy of placing as much emphasis on participation as winning, reinforces all the positive aspects of being physically active and supports us in our drive to make more people, more active, more often. The relationship we have with BAA Scottish Airports and Scotland's local authorities allows us to have a direct impact upon the range and standard of sporting opportunities provided for young people throughout Scotland."

Mr Wallace will have a keen interest in this year's event as a team from Orkney takes part for the first time. He said: "These games give young people the chance to meet in friendly sporting rivalry. I am very pleased that Orcadians are to take part this year and I wish them all the best as they match themselves against their contemporaries from all round Scotland. I know they'll enjoy themselves and I hope they do well."

Alastair Smith, Director of Corporate Affairs at BAA Scottish Airports said: "The Youth Games are a unique partnership between ourselves, sportscotland and thirty of Scotland's local authorities. The Games aims to promote sport to young people, including those with a disability, by offering them the chance to represent their area at a major sporting event."

Details regarding the BAA Scottish Airport Youth Games are as follows:

BAA EDINBURGH AIRPORT YOUTH GAMES
Friday 24 May 2002
Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh
Anticipated attendance: 1500
Participating Authorities:
City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Borders, East Lothian, Falkirk, West Lothian, Fife

BAA ABERDEEN AIRPORT YOUTH GAMES
Saturday 8 June
Anticiapted attendance: 1500
Participating Authorities: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, Highland, Moray, Shetland, Perth & Kinross, Orkney,

BAA GLASGOW AIRPORT YOUTH GAMES
Friday 21 June
Scotstoun Athletics Stadium & Leisure Centre
Anticipated attendance: 2500
Participating Authorities: Glasgow City, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyle & Bute, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire

• The BAA Scottish Airports Youth Games began in 1999. To date more than 12,000 youngsters from throughout Scotland have taken part.
• BAA Scottish Airports has invested more than £90,000 in the Youth Games 2002. The Games provide a key strand within BAA Scottish Airports community relations strategy, supporting: education, environment, economic regeneration and projects which benefit those communities around our airports.