Four to 11-year olds on the starting line for the Challenge Swindon Festival Of Sport Fun Run

F you think sport is not for you, the weekend of May 31 and June 1 could change your life.

The Challenge Swindon Festival of Sport will include 14 sports at seven venues across the borough.

The aim is to show that sport is open to all, and there will be events for everybody from committed enthusiasts to people wanting to try new sports or simply take part in healthy but fun events.

The Swindon Festival of Sport is part of the wider Challenge Swindon project, which has been developed by the council to help local people become more active.

Supported by various local organisations, Challenge Swindon is also the driving force behind events such as the Swindon Half Marathon and Get Active Month.

Festival director Nikki Courtney said: "The festival is community-focused, so we're running a mixture of events at the venues over the weekend.

"People will be able to try activities they would not normally consider, or that they've always wanted to try but never got round to it.

"They can come as a party from a company, as a family, as a club, as a group of friends or on their own to take part in sports they perhaps have not even considered before."

Among the planned attractions is an exciting selection of free taster sessions laid on by various local sports clubs.

Other free events include a children's fun run at Coate. Coate will also host grassboarding sessions - a fun variant on snowboarding - among a wealth of other activities.

A giant version of table football, involving real times balancing on bars in a giant inflatable is sure to be a hit with spectators and players alike.

Family fun will be found in the form of everything from face painting to freestyle football skills displays.

Other sports represented at the festival will be suitable for people of all ages and levels of athleticism. For example, there will be a chance to try the combined running and navigational discipline that is orienteering. People interested in anything from kart racing to rugby will also be well catered for.

Tournaments will be held in sports including football and badminton.

Dragon Boat Racing at Coate Water is always a favourite, while people favouring somewhat more relaxed water pursuits will be able to take part in angling tournaments or simply learn more about the sport.

Some of the events, including many of those open to teams, will charge reasonable entry fees.

Nikki added: "Sport is very good for you. It has proven health benefits in reducing heart disease, for example, and keeping blood pressure low, but we should remember that there is a very important and enjoyable social side to sport as well.

"It's great to get people together to have a good time, and that's what the festival is about.

"For a lot of the time, many people live and work in very stressful situations, and sport is a great way of relieving some of that stress.

"It's a very natural way to feel good about yourself."

The planned venues for the Challenge Swindon Festival of Sport are Coate, the Polo Ground, Dorcan Recreation Complex, Swindon Karting at Wroughton, the Croft Sports Centre in Old Town, St Park's Recreation ground and Peatmoor Lagoon.

Further information about the festival, along with the full programme of other Challenge Swindon events and the Challenge Swindon campaign itself, can be found at www. challengeswindon.org.uk

10:07am Tuesday 29th April 2008

Print

Email this