Capital Youth Games Launch

The inaugural Capital Youth Games will be held in Canberra, Australia from 16th to 23rd April 2006.

The inaugural Capital Youth Games will be held in Canberra, Australia from 16th to 23rd April 2006.

Mr Ted Quinlan, the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing and Gaming for the ACT, launched the Games at a media function on Wednesday at the ACT Netball Centre, Northbourne Avenue, Lyneham.

The CYG are an initiative of the Sports Education Group (www.sportseg.com.au), a leading provider of sports programs for youth throughout Australia.

There will be five sports conducted in 2006: Swimming, Futsal, Netball, Indoor Cricket, and Rugby Union. The age groups for the Games will be under 12, 14, 16 and 18 and all competitions will be run in conjunction with the relevant A.C.T. Sport Associations.

It is anticipated that the 2006 CYG will attract over 4,000 participants from the ACT and surrounding region as well as wider country NSW and Sydney. The games are targeting a participant profile of 50% from the ACT and 50% from country NSW and Sydney. It is estimated that the Games will attract over 10,000 visitors to Canberra.

The CYG will be an annual event in Canberra each Easter school holidays with an additional five sports being added to the CYG in 2007.

While the CYG are competition based with medal ceremonies to be conducted for each age group in each sport, the tournament will carry a philosophy of MAXimum Fun and MAXimum Participation - i.e. winning is not everything.

The CYG will increasingly become a prestigious event in Australia-s youth sporting calendar. Legends of Sport will be at the inaugural CYG to meet with competitors - signing autographs and being available for photos with tournament participants. The CYG are presented as a family event complete with Opening and Closing Ceremonies. It is an opportunity for families as a whole to enjoy the many and varied attractions that Canberra has to offer.

CYG Values

1. To encourage young athletes to play confidently and creatively to build self esteem to develop a love of learning and a strong sense of belonging and self worth. 2. To cater for young athletes from all cultural and social backgrounds and promote sport as a valuable tool for lifelong health and wellbeing. 3. To provide a quality tournament environment that allows young athletes to perform under elite competitive conditions. 4. To encourage various parts of society - be it sport or business - to work together in promoting their community.