Specsavers Youth Games to return in 2021...

SPECSAVERS has announced its continued sponsorship of the Youth Games giving young people the opportunity to try the new sporting facilities in the weeks leading up to the 2021 Island Games.

The event will take place on Saturday 22 May, with the closing ceremony at Footes Lane.

The biennial event, which is hosted by the Guernsey Sports Commission and Specsavers, saw more than 550 children from years 5 and 6 take part last month making it one of the most successful years to date.

Work is underway to refurbish and improve the track at Footes Lane and designs for a new football stadium at Victoria Avenue were approved earlier this year, meaning those taking part in the next youth games will be able to try out the new facilities ahead of the 2021 NatWest Island Games.

Dame Mary Perkins, who is also the chair of the Guernsey Games Organising Committee, said: ‘2021 is a very exciting year for Guernsey being the host island of the games, so we are delighted to continue our support of the youth games and we hope the event will inspire a new generation of Island Games competitors'.

‘The atmosphere at this year’s youth games was electric and the smiles on the children’s faces made me realise what this event is all about – encouraging and nurturing sport among our young people in Guernsey, building their confidence, having fun and a chance for them to make new friends.’

Since the first Specsavers Youth Games in 2005, the event has hosted more than 3,000 children. They are given opportunity to establish new friendships, build their confidence and improve social and life skills, while getting free access to a new sport. The aim of the Games is to promote the value of sport to young people with the emphasis on fun and fair play.

In order to learn as much as possible about each sport, coaching sessions take place in the six weeks before the games themselves. New sports which haven’t previously been a part of the games, included judo, petanque and softball. New sports will be approached again ahead of the next games. The sessions enable children to learn new skills, which are put to the test on Games Day, culminating in a closing ceremony.

#YouthGames2021

View the Specsavers 2019 video below: