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www.sxurbangames.co.uk

June 2010 Essex has been awarded another London 2012 Inspire Mark, this time for the SX Urban Games - an alternative sports day of street sports such as skateboarding, bmx-ing, streetball, boxing and hiphop dancing, based round skate park parks and urban park locations in Essex to promote the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and inspire young people to be involved in positive, physical activities.  

The project came about as part of the Essex Strategic Board for the 2012 (ESB)Games Sports Delivery Group who identified that they would organise some sports festivals, but wanted a new type of event that targeted a new audience and highlighted the 2012 Games as well.  A task and finish group was set up for this project. 

In 2009 a pilot event took place at King George Playing Field, Brentwood at the skate park and proved to be a popular day where over 220 young people (aged between 10 to 20 years) took part. Essex teenagers had the chance to try street sports such as skateboarding, bmx-ing, streetball, boxing and hiphop dancing, proving you don’t need to play mainstream sport to be active.  This pilot project was led by Brentwood Borough Council with support and input from the ESB Sports Delivery Group.

The opportunity has since been offered to other local authorities who have subsequently joined the task and finish group and will be organising events for 2010 and 2011 with support from the County Sports Partnership sportessex.

The SX Urban Games demonstrates that the Olympic values of friendship and respect can be fostered through the events, between participants, providers and spectators. The participants also deomonstrate Olympic value of excellence by trying to be the best they can in their particular activity through practice and hard work.  Paralympic values were fostered in the pilot event as younger participants were inspired by the older or more experienced participants , giving them the Paralympic value 'courage' to try new activities or tricks mentored by their counterparts or coaches and the 'determination' (another Paralympic value) to get better.  The Paralympic value 'equality' is acknowledged in that everyone is given a chance to participate regardless of ability.

The Street/Sport  aspect of the event inspires young people to take part in recreational sport in an informal way, without the pressure of competition and without the fear of ridicule. The young people had already expressed the need for this type of event and reinforced it at the pilot event.

The events will increase participation by encouraging those who do not necessarily take part in mainstream sports and come along to be involved in physical activity.  The Essex Carrying the Flame team will work with the Schools Sports Partnerships to encourage participation in the SX Urban Games activities and promote the impact that this will have on healthier lifestyles.  Any school invovled will be encouraged to sign up to the London 2012 Get Set network as a pre requisite.

The events for 2010 are as follows:

Sunday 25th July 2010, Urban Games, Central Chelmsford, Essex (11.00 – 4.00pm)

Sunday 1st August 2010, Urban Games, Central Brentwood, Essex (11.00 – 4.00pm)

Saturday 7th August 2010, Urban Games, Central Harlow, Essex (11.00 – 4.00pm)

Saturday 14th August 2010, Urban Games, Central Southend, Essex (11.00 – 4.00pm)

Sunday 22nd August 2010, Urban Games, Colchester, Essex (11.00 – 4.00pm)

Saturday 28th  August 2010, Urban Games Basildon, Essex

ESB task and finish group are looking at hosting more events in 2011 and 2012

Click here to visit the SX Urban Games website

Click here for more Essex 2012 Legacy sports activity......

Click here for details of other Essex projects with the London 2012 Insipire Mark