Youngsters on the starting blocks for Buckinghamshire School Games

SCHOOLCHILDREN will enjoy a mini-Olympics in Aylesbury on Friday July 1 as 1,300 pupils from across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes compete in 13 different sports.

The youngsters aged from seven to 14 will descend on Stoke Mandeville Stadium for the School Games, which will also boast guest speakers and dance performances.

The stadium will be the venue for the opening ceremony and several of the competitions, but other sites around Aylesbury will host some of the sports.

The event is being coordinated by Leap, the Sport and Activity Partnership for Bucks and MK, in partnership with the county’s School Games Organisers and is the culmination of a year-long programme of qualifying competitions.

Speakers will include British Sprint Athlete, two times Olympian and Commonwealth Gold and Silver medallist Abi Oyepitan.

There will be performances by pupils from St Michael’s Primary and Secondary Schools and Lord Grey Cheerleaders

The youngsters will be representing one of eight School Games areas, with each supported by a mascot.

The mascots will set the stage for the day’s competitions with the mascot race during the opening ceremony.

The events will take part throughout the day at Stoke Mandeville Stadium and at Fairford Leys Park, Bedgrove Park, Meadowcroft and Aylesbury Tennis, Squash and Racketball Club, Aylesbury.