Beth Helps To Launch Youth Festival (From Crewe Guardian)
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Beth Helps To Launch Youth Festival
3:45pm Tuesday 25th August 2009 in News
Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle helps youngsters on the eve of the festival.
SOUTH Cheshire's champion gymnast Beth Tweddle has been passing on some expert advice to the region's future sports stars.
Beth took time out from her preparations for the forthcoming World Championships, being held in London in October, to visit youngsters competing in the sixth annual North West StreetGames Festival.
The festival, which is organised by Sport4Life and has received National Lottery funding, engages young people within neighbourhoods that normally miss out on quality sporting opportunities.
Some 25 teams from 29 StreetGames projects across the North West took part in 16 sports in the event, giving up to 1,500 young people the opportunity to participate in a major sporting event.
Beth, aged 24, who has competed in two Olympic Games, said: "I’ve been lucky enough to compete at the highest level in gymnastics but my achievements would not have been possible without the support and encouragement I have been given along the way, particularly through investment from The National Lottery.
"That’s why I think the work that StreetGames is doing is so important.
“StreetGames community projects offer support and encouragement to those young people who need it most and give them the access to sport they deserve.
"The girls I’ve met are brilliant and have been able to pursue their passion for dance because such projects have been set up in their neighbourhoods.”
The National Lottery has awarded over £180,000 to Sport4Life to stage the StreetGames Festival and project leader John Dwan says the investment has helped the project to thrive.
John said: “We work with partners throughout the North West, including The National Lottery, to establish and develop projects that give young people living in deprived areas the chance to take part in sport.
"This event takes things a step further and gives them the opportunity to be sports stars for the day and experience what it’s like to take part in a major event at one of the country’s premier sporting venues.”
