An exciting series of sports events will take place across the city during June to celebrate National School Sports Week.
The Urban Street Games will provide children ages 12 and 13, with the opportunity to take part in several competitive Olympic style sporting activities including football, athletics, street dance, baseball, vollleyball and tug of war whilst mixing with other children from neighbouring schools.
The project aims to promote community spirit through sport amongst children and events will take place in four locations across the city, attracting up to 400 year eight pupils from several Cardiff High Schools.
It will bring together youth from different abilities, culture and schools through the medium of sport and provide them with a unique experience which will hopefully inspire them to continue to play sport in the future.
National School Sport Week is a sporting celebration for primary and secondary schools and aims to generate interest in sport for pupils of all ages.
The nationwide campaign runs from Monday, 25 June to Friday, 29 June and attracts almost 14,000 schools and five million children from across the UK, encouraging them to take part and enjoy sporting activities.
Last year Cardiff was chosen to host the closing ceremony at Llanishen High School which saw 400 children take part in Olympic and Paralympic sports as well as attempting to beat their personal best.
Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “The Urban Street Games is an essential project which aims to get young people involved in sport and enables them to engage and interact with other children from other schools.
“By providing competitive sports provision in schools it is hoped children and young people will be inspired to partake in regular sporting activity, essential for a healthy and active lifestyle.”
Divisional Commander for Cardiff, Chief Superintendant Alun Thomas, said: “As a police force we see the positive impact sport can have in bringing communities together and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Sport teaches young people discipline, respect and team spirit which benefit not only themselves as individuals but the wider community.
“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams regularly organise local sporting events from football tournaments to skating sessions which help take young people off the streets where they can become victims or perpetrators of crime and disorder.
“Crime is at a 25-year low in South Wales but we cannot become complacent.
“Events such as these and now the Urban Games also encourage positive contact between young people from different parts of the city, therefore improving community cohesion.
“With the Olympics right here on our doorstep, there is no better time to encourage our young people to get involved in sport.”
The Urban Games is supported by partners, South Wales Police and Proud Capital.
Schools involved in the project are Glyn Derw, Michaelston Community College, Cantonian, Plasmawr, Cardiff High, Llanederyn, Rumney and Llanrumney.
