Your chance to ‘Be Actively Brilliant' as

Kent School Games 2014 goes under starter's orders

Paralympic icon and world record holder Danny Crates will be lining up close to 200 young competitors onWednesday 13 November 2014for the launch of theKent School Games 2014,organised by KCC's Sport and Physical Activity Service and sponsored by Sainsbury's. The games kick off on the 13 November with the nail-biting and visually spectacular finals of the Kent Schools Team Table Tennis Tournament, which will see 196 competitors from 18 schools attempting to ping pong their way to victory across 24 table tennis tables located at the Medway Park, Gillingham, from 9am-4pm.

At12 noonDanny Crates (who is widely considered one of the greatest Paralympians of all time) will officially open the Kent School Games 2014 with one of his renowned and inspirational talks, as 200 Table Tennis competitors bat hundreds of ping pong balls into the air to signify the launch of the Games. Danny will also oversee the first of numerous medal ceremonies at midday, with the remaining ceremonies running throughout the afternoon as the Under 11s, Under 13s, Under 16s and Under 19s boys' and girls' teams play hard for Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The fourth Kent School Games (KSG)will offer school children across Kent the chance to compete in 35 key sporting events from now until July 2014 with the competition including everything from Athletics, Cycling, Football and Tennis; through Badminton, Basketball, Boxing and Beach Volleyball; to Hockey, Netball, Rowing and Rugby and much more. KSG 2014 will culminate in a VIP exhibition and competitive showcase on Wednesday 25 June, as part of a 20 day finals programme at top sporting venues in front of hundreds of school students, parents and teachers, together with a star studded cast of former Olympians, Paralympians and the County's dignitaries.

Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council, said: "The Kent School Games 2014 is a dynamic example of the Olympic legacy being made a reality. With the backing of KCC and thanks to the sponsorship of Sainsbury, about 35,000 young people will be taking part in the fourth Kent School Games.

"We are passing on the legacy to the next generation of children and giving them a sporting chance to get competitive, achieve their sporting potential and be actively brilliant."

KSG 2014 (which is part of a nationwide initiative) embraces all age groups and abilities of school children with the Primary School Games, the Secondary School Games and the Disability Games. With 518 state, private and special needs schools picking up the baton to get involved in 2012, the organisers are hoping to encourage all 700 of the county's schools to join the race in 2014.

Level 1 of the competition provides schools with the chance to discover their most enthusiastic and talented young sportsmen and women within their own school communities. These students will then progress to level 2 by representing their school in one of 16 regional School Games Areas' competitions or regional events, whilst the winners of each region will then move to level 3 for the star spangled KSG four-day final in July 2014.

So if you want to get your school participating in the Kent School Games 2014 contact your School Games Organiser on kentsport.org/SchoolGamesOrganisersor for further news and information about KSG 2014 visitwww.kentschoolgames.com. Follow us on Twitter @KentSchoolGames and Facebook/KentSchoolGames.

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For more information or photographs from 13 November 2013 contact:

Steven Jones/Sarah Orton

WAC PR & Marketing

T: 01580 890024

E:steven@wacpr.com/sarah@wacpr.com

M: 07939 114788 / 07984 886712

Issued: Friday 8 November

NOTE TO THE EDITOR:

Danny Crates will be available for interview from 12am-4pm, as will a number of the Table Tennis competitors. The key photo opportunity and official launch takes place at12 NOON. For filming/recording/photographing purposes, the schedule of play will run as follows:

Team Event Schedule

Under 11's: (boys & girls Year 6 & below) 9am - 12.30pm

OFFICIAL LAUNCH of Kent School Games 2014 with Danny Crates

Opening Medal Ceremony & Photo Opportunity12 NOON

Under 13 Boys 9am - 2pm

Under 13 Girls 11am - 2pm

Under 16 Boys 10.30am - 4pm

Under 16 Girls 2pm - 3.30pm

Under 19 Boys 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Biography of Danny Crates:

Paralympic icon and world record holder Danny Crates is widely considered one of the greatest British disability athletes of all time. After losing his right arm in a horrific accident in 1994 aged just 21, Danny moved into Paralympic sport and quickly began to dominate - famously winning gold in the men's 800 meters T46 final at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, a year which also saw him set a new world record. It was the highlight of a glittering career that saw Danny win every major title in the sport including the World Championships, European Championships and Paralympic World Cup. Danny later received the prestigious honour of carrying the British Flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games as he led out the ParalympicsGB team. Following his retirement in 2009, Danny has become a leading public speaker and media personality in the UK and is actively involved in working with and inspiring school-aged children. He also played a lead presenting role during Channel 4's BAFTA-winning coverage of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

AREAS REPRESENTED BY TEAM TABLE TENNIS FINALISTS

On Wednesday 13 November from 9am-4pm

At Medway Park, Mill Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1HF