Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru

LUCKER LEADS UK SCHOOL GAMES TEAM

Wheelchair racer, Daniel Lucker from Abergavenny, has been awarded a huge honour by being named captain of the Welsh Athletics Team that will compete at this years UK School Games being held in Cardiff, Newport & Swansea.

Lucker, a member of the Disability Sport Wales Academy, heads up a team of able-bodied and disability athletes that form one of the sports being held over the weekend (September 3rd – 6th). Joining Lucker will be FDSW Academy athletes Josh Clark (Cardiff), Ieuan Coombes (Caerleon) James Ledger (Swansea) and Laura Swetman (Pontypridd).

Academy Manager Gerwyn Owen said: ‘This will be Dan’s last appearance at the UK School Games and he hopes to go out on a high with a hatrick performance – as he has won the event over the last two years in Coventry and Bath’

Owen went on to say ‘This is a great opportunity for our athletes to experience a multi-sport competition environment. This event tries to replicate the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and therefore hopefully if the guys make it to London 2012 or beyond in 2016 they will already be used to the atmosphere, pressures and expectations’.

Also competing in disability events will be Gareth Jones (Wrexham) competing for the 2nd time in the Table Tennis event, hoping to improve on his 4th place last year in Bath.

The swimmers will compete in Swansea National Pool for Wales, with Jacob Clapham, Carys Llewelyn and Isaac Heaher from Swansea and Jonathan Eke from Abertillery representing their country.

The UK School Games is a multi-sport event for the UK’s elite young athletes of school age.
The sports programme has been increased for 2009 to include a new sport, track cycling, which combined with the existing programme of Athletics, Badminton, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis and Volleyball brings the total to ten sports. The integrated programme of disability events in Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis increases the athletes competing in 2009 to over 1500.
Each of the ten sports is combined into a four-day Games environment designed to replicate the feel of major event such as the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games.
The UK School Games seeks to create an inspirational and motivational setting which encourages more young people to take part and succeed in sport.
Responsibility for the development and organisation of the UK School Games lies with the Youth Sport Trust.
Since it was launched, six key themes have been created to ensure the UK School Games bring about systematic change in the way in which competitive opportunities are developed for young people and that a lasting legacy is created.
The UK School Games visions are:
1. Ongoing planning and delivery of a UK level sports event showcasing talented young sports people.
2. To bring about a step change in the content, structure and presentation of competitive sporting opportunities for young people.
3. Use the event itself, and themed branding of local and regional competitions, to raise the profile of school age competitions and the young people taking part, to promote the work undertaken in each nation to improve P.E. and school sport.
4. Integrate Olympic and Paralympic themes into the UK School Games by ensuring that the Olympic and Paralympic values are promoted through volunteer training, opening and closing ceremonies and an Athlete Village.
5. Create opportunities for young people to become engaged in volunteering at major sports events both as technical officials and event volunteers.
6. Ensure the event advocates and demonstrates the highest level of child protection and welfare systems

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