The audience, which included the 1,600 young athletes, were treated to a wide array of performances from singers, dancers and choirs who took to the stage with impressive displays. The highlight of the night however was the appearances of School Games alumni and Olympic & Paralympic champions Max Whitlock, Liz Johnson and Alex Danson on stage, to rapturous applause.

Earlier in the day Whitlock led a gymnastics masterclass for some of the gymnasts who will be competing over the weekend, showing them how he trains and sharing his words of wisdom.

The double Rio 2016 Olympic champion said: “I was reserve for the School Games just a few years ago so you guys are all already ahead of where I was at your age. My advice to you all is to take in the experience – this is a massive stepping stone towards what could potentially be your future.

“This is your mini Olympics so enjoy it, go out there and do your very best and if you make any mistakes you’ve got plenty more time, as you’re still young, so just enjoy it and take it all in.”

Loughborough University’s Executive Director for Sport, John Steele, added: “We’re going to have an amazing couple of days of sport at Loughborough University; we’ve already had the fever of Rio and the excitement of Team GB’s achievements and it’s great to remember that a lot of the athletes – 15% in fact – started at the School Games.

“There will be plenty of stars of the future in action; we’ve already seen Max Whitlock doing a gymnastics masterclass and he started here at the School Games along with a lot of other medallists in Rio.”

The evening came to a close with a show stopping firework display and the official opening of the games performed by Max Whitlock and fellow Olympian Alex Danson.

The 1,600 competitors, who are among some of the most talented young athletes in the UK, will now contest 12 different sports, seven of which include disability disciplines.

The sports taking place are Athletics, Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Rugby Sevens, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis.

Event schedules and tickets can be found here.

A live stream of all the action can be found here.

Report courtesy of Loughborough University Press Office.

1,600 athletes from across the UK will compete across 12 sports, seven of which include disability disciplines, at the four-day spectacular which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

The event, that aims to replicate the experience of a major sporting event like an Olympic or Paralympic Games, will have spectacular opening and closing ceremonies, an athletes’ village and a full education programme that gives the competing athletes a unique insight into the world of elite sport.

The Games have provided a springboard for many of today’s biggest names in sport. Previous competitors include Paralympic gold medallists Ellie Simmonds, Hannah Cockroft and Jonnie Peacock along with GB sprinter Adam Gemili, heptathlete Katrina Johnson-Thompson, and Olympic gymnast Sam Oldham. Peacock, Gemili and Oldham have all now chosen Loughborough University as their training base.

Loughborough University will host 11 of the sports at the 2016 School Games as well as providing an Olympic style athletes’ village, which will give competitors a real flavour of a major multi-sport event.

The confirmed sports and ceremonies that will take place at the 2016 School Games are as follows:

Alongside the 1,600 elite young athletes at the event this year, there will be over 400 volunteers supporting the venues, many of which will be young people. There will also be a young media team covering all aspects of the games and a Talent Inspiration Programme which aims to engage young people who have ambitions of competing at the event in the future. 

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “The 2016 School Games finals are a fantastic event that gives young sporting talent from across the UK the chance to compete on a major stage, giving them invaluable experience for the future. On top of that the Games also promote volunteering with hundreds of young people due to be involved to help support the hosting of the finals in Loughborough. I am sure it will be a fantastic four days of competition.”

Ali Oliver, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, added: “It is extremely exciting to bring the 2016 School Games to Loughborough which is set to be a spectacular experience for the 1,600 athletes and will showcase the breadth of young sporting talent we have in the UK. Loughborough University has such a strong history and reputation for research, PE teacher education, post and under graduate study and will provide the perfect setting for the Games.”

Sport England’s Director of Community Sport, Mike Diaper, said: “Loughborough University is a fantastic venue to host this year’s School Games final. Steeped in sporting history, its impressive facilities will make this year’s the games the best ever. While it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of British youth talent, it’s important to remind all athletes, that win, lose or draw,  when it comes to being active what matters most is that you are trying your best while having some fun too.”

John Steele, Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University, added: “We are delighted to welcome the best young sporting talent in the UK to Loughborough in September. Given our proud history of sporting excellence we are confident that we will put on the best School Games to date, which will not only be an amazing experience for all involved, but also prepare Olympic and Paralympic athletes of the future.”

The School Games is set across four levels with the Loughborough event providing the national platform of sporting competition. Across the year young people compete in a range of sport at class-v-class, school-v-school and in county-wide sport festivals as part of the Games.

Tickets for the 2016 School Games are now on sale for all twelve sports. To book tickets visit here or the 2016 School Games website here.

Report courtesy of Loughborough University.