Fast Track Appointed To Deliver Sainsbury's 2013 School Games Finals

Fast Track has been appointed by the Youth Sport Trust (YST) to deliver the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games finals which are to be hosted in Sheffield from 12-15 September 2013. 

Following a competitive pitch process Fast Track was selected to deliver the overall event management and media and PR for the event, which is backed by £2 million National Lottery investment through Sport England. 

Sheffield will host 12 sports across a number of venues throughout the city creating an amazing multi-sport competition for 1,500 disabled and non-disabled athletes. Sheffield previously hosted the Sainsbury’s UK School Games 2011 which saw elite school-aged athletes compete in 12 sports across six venues.

Fast Track has worked with the YST on the School Games, which is an evolved version of the UK School Games, since 2006 including the Sainsbury’s 2012 School Games that took place in Olympic Park venues. 

The Velodrome, Aquatics Centre and Olympic Stadium all hosted competition while ExCeL hosted the opening ceremony in addition to competition as well as the Basketball Arena which hosted the closing ceremony, all just two months before the start of London 2012. 

Director of Live Events at Fast Track, Michelle Dite said: “Fast Track is proud to be working alongside the Youth Sport Trust once again to deliver the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games. 

“This builds on our involvement in the 2012 School Games which was the only multi-sport event in Olympic Park venues just weeks before the London 2012 games itself. I have no doubt that the 2013 event will be just as exciting and inspiring for elite young athletes as the event returns to Sheffield which itself has such a rich sporting heritage.”

Alison Oliver, Director of Sport at the Youth Sport Trust added: “We are extremely pleased to be working with Fast Track for the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games. Our relationship with them has gone from strength to strength since the initial UK School Games in 2006. 

“Their in-depth knowledge and innovative approaches to planning major multi sport events, events for elite disabled athletes and those involving talented young athletes makes them an ideal delivery partner for such an exciting yet challenging event to organise.”

Building on the success of the inaugural finals held on the Olympic Park in May this year, Sport England announced £2 million of National Lottery funding has been allocated to help bring the Sainsbury's 2013 School Games finals to Sheffield in September.

Sport England’s funding will also support all elements of the Sainsbury's School Games - which aims to transform competitive sport in schools and get more young people playing sport through class versus class and school versus school competitions along with county wide sports festivals.

In an innovation for 2013, 250 of the young people who've competed in the county-wide sport festivals will be able to share in the experience of the finals, from the opening and closing ceremonies to life in the athletes' village and meeting athlete ambassadors.