There are just two more days to go until the opening ceremony of this years’ International Youth Sport Festival which will take place in Bury from 21 to 24 June. Around 500 young people aged 13 to 16 will participate in the festival which is now in its 20th year.
The festival will be launched in grand style by an impressive official opening ceremony on Thursday evening. Sporting competitions will follow on Friday and on Saturday morning the Country Cohesion Games will take place. This aspect of the Festival has been awarded the prestigious London 2012 Inspire Mark.
Admission to the opening ceremony is free. It starts at St John’s Gardens, The Rock from 8pm with a procession of the 500 young athletes from five countries who will be led into the arena by a member of the Stride Dance Project, a Dance Initiative Greater Manchester. The Master of Ceremonies and entertainer, Garry Gifford will announce the athletes by country and welcome all guests to the ceremony. This will be followed by music act Myles and Connor (MC), a performing arts showcase from Bury College Glee Club, Accentu8 Dance Company and vocalist Laura Martindale. The penultimate act will be The Rannel Theatre Company with Flhip Flhop, a fresh new twist on Hip-Hop theatre, combining witty dialogue and intricate choreography to create an energetic and hilarious comedy. The evening will be rounded off at 9.10pm with an award-winning, world-travelled fire dance show called FlameOZ which includes fire dancing, juggling and eating.
Taking part in the sports festival alongside Bury will be: Angouleme and Tulle in France; Dueville in Italy; Lousada in Portugal; and Schorndorf in Germany.
The festival takes place with only one month to go to the London 2012 Games and on the same weekend that the Olympic Torch Relay arrives in the borough on Saturday 23 June.
Councillor Jane Lewis, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism and Culture said, “This festival presents us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase our borough and the sporting talent of our youngsters.
The opening ceremony on Thursday promises to be an exciting event for all the family so let's make sure we have a really good turnout and welcome our visitors in style.
