General News:

Aberdeen Grammar come out on top at annual Secondary Festival of Sport

7.2.19

Once again, secondary school pupils from across Aberdeen came together for the popular Aberdeen Youth Games (AYG) Secondary Festival of Sport.

The annual event, held at Aberdeen Sports Village, saw the schools compete against each other across a variety of sports, with Aberdeen Grammar being crowned the overall winning school for 2019.

The AYG Secondary Festival of Sport is a one day event made up of six sporting events and is intended to be competitive, promote the positive values of competition amongst young people and give pupils the opportunity to represent their school in their chosen sport.

Over 350 S1 – S3 pupils from nine secondary schools across the city took part in the games, competing in six different sports, including men’s football, women’s football, dodgeball, table tennis, basketball and swimming.

Keith Gerrard, Director of Healthy and Active Communities at Sport Aberdeen, said:

“We are delighted to be working with RGU on the Aberdeen Youth Games initiative. Every year it increases in scale and this year is no exception.

“This partnership underlines how many opportunities there are for young people to take part in physical activity in Aberdeen and highlights how many fantastic young role models there are inspiring their peers to take part in, and enjoy sport.”

The activities were undertaken alongside Scottish Swimming, Basketball Scotland, Aberdeen & District Table Tennis Association, Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust and Granite City Guerrillas.

Since launching in 2013, the Aberdeen Youth Games have become a hugely anticipated and staple event in Aberdeen’s sporting calendar. The initiative is delivered in partnership by RGU, Sport Aberdeen and North East Scotland College (NEScol) and is funded by the Wood Foundation.

Dr Bryan McCann, lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at RGU, who leads the university’s involvement in the programme, said:

“The Aberdeen Youth Games is made possible by our exciting and innovative approach, which allows students to act as community assets and deliver sports coaching to young people across Aberdeen.

“Not only do school children experience the real benefits that sport can bring, but our students gain invaluable work related, real life learning opportunities to enhance their employability, whilst making a huge difference.”