All Systems Go for the Inaugural Leigh Games

Games will showcase talents of our young people as excitementbuilds in fitting legacy to the 2012 London Olympics

Excitement is growing ahead of the inaugural Leigh Games to be held on 1st and 2nd July at Leigh Sports Village.

The action packed two day event promises to be a fitting local legacy to the 2012 London Olympics and I am calling on local primary and secondary schools to participate in the inaugural event.

Organisers have now released details of the 2 day sporting extravaganza which will see primary schools participate on the 1st July with the secondary schools participating the following day.

Inspired by London 2012, organisers have also promised an Olympic style medal presentation and table for the victorious athletes and their school.

The launch will take place against the exciting triple announcement that former NBA Basketball legend John Amaechi is throwing his considerable support behind the Leigh Games with his attendance confirmed for the Basketball competition.

In addition, London 2012 Team GB Wheelchair Rugby captain Steve Brown will be attending the primary school events and on 2nd July Olympic Sprinter Jason Gardner on hand for the secondary school games.

I am also delighted to announce that Leigh based supermarket giant Morrisons and Golborne based Alpla UK Ltd are supporting the packed 2 day event as sponsors. Together with Leigh Sports Village, Wigan & Leigh Culture Leisure Trust, Active Energy, Premier Support and Leslie McGreevy (schools sports co-ordinator) I am calling on the whole community to get behind the games and support Leigh’s young people.

The excitement is growing as the countdown begins to this very special sporting event. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the whole community to come together and celebrate the achievements of our young people.

The London 2012 Olympics served to demonstrate the tremendous appetite for sport that exists in the UK and in 2013 the Leigh Games held at the iconic Leigh Sports Village will provide a festival of sport that the whole community in Leigh can be proud to support.

World Cup boost puts Leigh firmly on sporting map

I was delighted to learn this morning of the announcement by the Rugby Football League that Leigh Sports Village will host a game and act as a training base during the Rugby League World Cup in 2013.

The decision by the sport’s governing body marks a 10 year campaign by me and others starting with the concept that blossomed into Leigh Sports Village.

This latest announcement is yet another landmark in the development of Leigh as a major sporting destination in the North West:

∙       First ever international in 2010 as England played France
∙       Hosted England v Wales in the 2011 Four Nations
∙       and the Olympic torch relay will come to the Leigh area

This is fantastic news for Leigh and is a measure of just how far our town has come. Ten years ago we could only dream about hosting a major international sporting event. Today, with this decision, our town is firmly established on the country's sporting map.

The next two years promise to be an exciting time for sport in Leigh. In just a few months time, the Olympic Torch will travel through our area as we get ready for London 2012. Then, in 2013, the RL World Cup comes to Leigh.  It will be an unforgettable year and an inspirational time for all young Leythers.

I would like to thank the RFL for putting its trust in Leigh as well as congratulating Wigan Council on the strength of its successful bid. I am particularly pleased that the LSV will be a training venue and will now work with my good friend Trevor Barton to bring one of the sport's biggest names to Leigh.

Leigh today is a centre of sporting excellence. We don't just have world-class facilities but are also lucky to have a network of outstanding amateur sports clubs. Leigh's strong sporting infrastructure has been built up by the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who do so much to give opportunities our young people. They know who they are and I am grateful to each and every one of them. They have done so much to build sport in Leigh and I hope they will see Leigh's arrival on the international sporting map as recognition of their efforts.