The 2012 HSBC Manx Youth Games was officially launched by the Minister of Department of Community Culture and Leisure, Hon Tim Crookall MHK, on Monday evening at the Douglas branch of HSBC Bank.
Making the opening address, Mr Crookall said: “I am delighted to formally launch this fantastic event, which is without doubt one of the highlights of the Manx sporting calendar. The HSBC Manx Youth Games is now in its eleventh year and, since the first Games back 2002, has kindly been sponsored and supported by HSBC. During the last 11 years the HSBC Manx Youth Games has offered young people on the Island accessible opportunities to engage in sport and enjoy the benefits that an active lifestyle offers. As always, the Games will begin with a great spectacle – an opening ceremony – offering an experience that will be treasured by the participants taking part in this year’s event.”
The HSBC Manx Youth Games’ training sessions will commence at the beginning of February and run up until the day of the event, which will be Saturday 19 May 2012. Training sessions will be facilitated by qualified coaches in all regions of the Island for children between the ages of 8 and 15 years of age, in the 11 sports in this year’s event.
Local children from Fairfield Primary School were on hand to help launch the 2012 Games, modelling the HSBC Manx Youth Games participants’ T-shirts.
Kevin Cartledge, Senior Manager, HSBC Bank, said: “On behalf of the bank, we are delighted to once again be involved with supporting this wonderful event. The commitment and dedication of all the sports co-ordinators, coaches and volunteers who are involved in making this such a worthwhile initiative is outstanding. It is a privilege for HSBC to be able to support the Manx Youth Games with funding and volunteers, and help assist community development on the Island.”
The DCCL Sports Development Unit will be visiting every school on the Island over the next two weeks to promote the HSBC Manx Youth Games. All children will be shown a promotional video of last year’s event, and receive a training booklet which contains all the details of the training sessions, and further information about the initiative.
For further details please visit http://www.gov.im/sport/sportsdevelopment/games.xml or contact the Sport Development Office on 688592.
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