PRIMARY school children in the Island have been asked to design the front cover of a souvenir programme which marks the 10th anniversary of the Manx Youth Games.

The Department of Community, Culture and Leisure and event sponsors HSBC have launched a competition for pupils in year's three to six to celebrate the games which are held in May.

The successful pupil will win £100 worth of sporting activities in the school holidays, run by the Sport's Development Unit, and a large framed print of their design. 

The pupil's school will also be awarded £400 worth of sports equipment and a large framed print of the winning design.

Community, Culture and Leisure Minister David Cretney MHK said: "This competition is a great way to engage young people within our community whilst raising the awareness of this wonderful sporting event. The 10th HSBC Manx Youth Games take place on May 21 and will be a great celebration of the Island's young sporting talent."

Education and Children Minister Eddie Teare MHK said: "The HSBC Manx Youth Games has achieved many objectives since it was launched 10 years ago. I have been impressed by the range of sports covered and the increasing number of children taking part. This encourages young people to become involved in sport which is, in the long term, beneficial to their health and development. Long may it continue."

The competition has been launched in all of the Island's primary schools.

Designs must be portrait and either A4 or A3 in size and can be submitted electonically or by post.

Postal entries should be submitted to the Sports Development Office, MYG Souvenir Programme Competition, National Sports Centre, Groves Road, Douglas, IM2 1RB.

Electronic JPEGs or PDFs can be emailed to enquiries@msr.dtl.gov.im. Please type MYG Souvenir Programme Competition in the subject box.

Entries should not include the HSBC or Manx Youth Games logo.

The closing date for the competition is Friday, March 18, 2011.