2014 project to involve youngsters

Feb 4 2013

Young people are being encouraged to get involved in the build-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Organisers believe it can give them confidence and skills to be future leaders, creating a legacy beyond sport for the Games.

A programme called Lead 2014 is being launched and will involve a series of conferences at Scottish universities where secondary school children will work with tutors to plan and organise their own sporting event before hosting it at their school.

It will also lead to many getting involved in the volunteer effort around the 2014 Glasgow event, organisers hope.

Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg said: "Lead 2014 is a call to action and a fantastic chance for us to empower young people as part of the Glasgow 2014 journey and further enable the legacy these Games will leave.

"By using sport as a platform to enthuse the students and pupils about leadership, volunteering, sport, health and well-being we can instil a desire to be part of the Games and the broader Commonwealth, playing an active role in their communities.

"I truly hope we will see many of them engage with other Glasgow 2014 activity and other major events in years to come."

The conferences will focus on communicating through social media to reach as many young people as possible. The programme is in partnership with sportscotland, Youth Sport Trust and Glasgow 2014.

John Steele, chief executive of Youth Sport Trust, said: "Sport has an incredible power to inspire young people and support them to achieve their personal best in life. Through Lead 2014 we are developing leaders and volunteers of the future who can demonstrate the positive impact of sport and will go on to become positive role models to others."

Seven conferences will be held at universities across the country throughout March.