Chris Mole MP today (Sunday, July 6^th 2008) attended the Suffolk Youth Games where he awarded the prize to the victorious Bury St Edmunds basketball team.

Youth Games events are held across the country and are supported by County Sport Partnership and Local Authority Funding. Suffolk’s Youth Games are also sponsored by Redrow Homes and Explore of Suffolk County Council.

Originally young people are encouraged to “Come and Try” taster sessions which are trial days where girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 14 who have not played competitive support at regional level before. Squads are then selected for each sport to participate in the games themselves.

The games places special emphasis on ensuring diversity, by heavily promoting the games in deprived urban areas, and areas with high ethnic populations.

Chris said:

“It was great to see so many young people out and playing sport. I want to say well done to everybody who took part on what was a fantastically organised day.

“The arrival of the 2012 Olympics to London presents a great opportunity to boost enthusiasm amongst young people about sport in our town. The standard on show here today was very high indeed.”