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| Photo: Lancaster City Council |
The Lancaster International Youth Games – a week long festival of sport – came to a close on Friday with a glittering ceremony at Salt Ayre Sports Centre and the home team topping the medal table.
The successful sporting event, which saw local young athletes competing with rivals from some of Lancaster’s “twin towns” – Lublin in Poland, Aalborg (Denmark), Almere (Holland) and Rendsburg (in Germany) saw more than 400 young people from the Lancaster district and across Europe competing in 10 sports.
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| Photo: Lancaster City Council |
It was the ninth time that Lancaster has held the International Youth Games and competition took place at venues across the district including Salt Ayre Sports Centre, Lancaster University, Morecambe High School and the John O’Gaunt Rowing Club.
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| Photo: Lancaster City Council |
Sports included athletics, badminton, rowing, table tennis, tennis, golf, karate, and swimming.
For the first time, echoing the success of the London 2012 Paralympics, disability sports also featured in the International Youth Games.
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| Photo: Lancaster City Council |
The home team topped the medal table with an impressive 70 gold, 100 silver and 95 bronze.
As well as the sporting activities there were cultural, music and dance activities.
“The Games were a great success and we received some very positive feedback from our European compatriots,” enthused Councillor Ron Sands, cabinet member with responsibility for leisure, culture and tourism. “I would like to thank everybody who was involved in their organisation, without whom they could not have taken place, and the families who hosted the visiting competitors.
“The unique thing about the International Youth Games is not just in the competitiveness of the sports but the sharing of experiences and learning about people from different countries.
“The Games also showcased the district and its sporting venues and it was good to see so many participants enjoying our facilities.”
The Lancaster International Youth Games are organised by Lancaster
City Council with valuable support from local sports clubs and community
organisations including the volunteer leaders, without whom the
opportunity to take part would not exist.
2014 will see the Games take place in Almere, in Holland.
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| Photo: Lancaster City Council |
The Medals Table
Lancaster: Gold 70 Silver 100 Bronze 95
Lublin: Gold 44 Silver 3 Bronze 1
Aalborg: Gold 43 Silver 41 Bronze 42
Almere: Gold 40 Silver 31 Bronze 29
Rendsburg: Gold 14 Silver 17 Bronze 21
• Youth Games page on Lancaster City Council web site
• More photos on the event’s Facebook page