05/03/08 - Challenge Swindon, Festival Of Sport 2008

Cllr Justin Tomlinson & Lucy Boulton

Top Volleyball Player Supports Swindon Community Sporting Extravaganza

Beach volleyball star Lucy Boulton is set to launch this year's Challenge Swindon - Festival of Sport.

The 21-year-old former British Olympic Association Athlete of the Year will be encouraging people to enter the Swindon community sporting extravaganza at Coate Water, at 1pm on Wednesday, 5 March.

Lucy said: "The Festival of Sport is a brilliant opportunity for people to get active and try something new. I'm really pleased that beach volleyball is one of the sports on offer and urge people to give it a try - not only is it a great form of exercise, it's also fantastic fun."

Challenge Swindon, organised by Swindon Borough Council in partnership with Triumph will take place on Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June. The weekend features a host of sports tournaments for adults of all ages and free activities for everyone.

Beach volleyball, dragon boat racing, angling, badminton, squash, hockey, netball, tennis, inflatable table football and boccia (similar to boules) are among the sports on offer, based at leisure venues across the borough.

Some of the tournaments are for individuals and others are for teams - so now is the time to get together with family, friends and work colleagues and decide which sport to enter. Visit the website www.challengeswindon.org.uk <http://www.challengeswindon.org.uk> for more information.

The Challenge Swindon initiative, which includes the Festival of Sport, first launched last year, is part-funded by Sport England and aims to help people be "more active, more often."

In line with Government guidelines, Swindon Borough Council aims to raise activity levels by at least 1 per cent per year. This will help achieve the target of getting half the population doing 30 minutes of exercise three times a week by 2020.

Champion golfer David Howell is pleased to offer his support again this year as Patron of the event.

Throughout the weekend taster sessions, fun games and demonstrations for people of all ages are also planned, creating a festival atmosphere.

Councillor Justin Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Recreation, will also be attending the launch event.

Cllr Tomlinson said: "The Festival of Sport is a great chance for everyone to get active and have a great time with friends, family or work colleagues. I took part last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now it's your turn to get involved, whether individually or as part of a team. Pick a sport, enter and get set for an even bigger, better community event."

To find out more call: (01793) 511033 or text the word ACTIVE to 80010.

You can view the Swindon Web video by clicking on:

http://www.swindonweb.com/tv/index.asp?v=284