The Community Games that was launched in 2016 with support from Microgaming through its PlayItForward initiative, is a sporting event for secondary students.
The games were aimed at 11 to 18 year olds who do not belong to a school, club or Island team and was attended by students from the Department of Education and Children’s five secondary schools. The sporting event will become a firm part of the school calendar after encouraging students to get active and sign up to clubs.
Manx Sport and Recreation (MSR) ran the games and has revealed that the event will be called the Microgaming Community Games in future in order to further highlight the company’s support.
The 2017 Games is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 21st June 2017.
The Minister for Education and Children, Graham Cregeen MHK, who oversees sport, commented on the event by saying that the games give students an opportunity to try sport in an environment where the emphasis is on enjoyment and not results. He added that participants are encouraged to stay involved with sport and to join community clubs.
The Minister went on to say that joining clubs offers young people many benefits. He added that the health advantages of being active are clear but membership of a club can lead to lifelong friendships. He went on to say that it can open doors to officiating, coaching, sitting on committees and developing skills that give young people confidence and self-esteem to flourish away from sport.
There were 10 sports featured in the inaugural games – badminton, girls’ football, judo, rugby, swimming, glow sport, basketball, golf, netball and snooker. Bowls, rifle shooting, hockey and squash will be added next year.
