ATHLETICS stars Sally Gunnell MBE and Denise Lewis attended the launch of a new national sports competition, the Millennium Youth Games on February 25.

In the past the News Shopper has covered the progress of Lewisham and Greenwich Boroughs in the London Heathrow Youth Games. These games have been running since 1977, with airport operator BAA plc becoming title sponsors in 1994. Last year more than 20,000 young people from the 33 London boroughs took part.

After a successful Surrey County Games in 1997, discussions between BAA and the English Sports Council led to the development of a partnership which will implement a nationwide competition.

Each district will select teams through their sports development programmes to compete against other districts in an annual County Games.

The winning teams in athletics, swimming, tennis, netball, hockey, rugby, basketball and a sport for people with disabilities will then represent their county at the inaugural Millennium Youth Games which are part of the New Millennium Experience Company's UK-wide 2000 celebrations. The London Heathrow Youth Games will retain its present format with the winners in the selected sports also going through to the Millennium games.

Lewisham's team manager for the London games Mick Barlow said he thought the new event was a good idea. "I think it's superb - it should be well-backed. The London Heathrow Youth Games is already the largest European youth sports event," he said.

The partnership will be offering local authorities financial and practical support.

Mr Barlow said running the Lewisham team already costs between £13,000 and £15,000 and help would be gratefully received.

Former 400m hurdles world-record holder Sally Gunnell and World Championship heptathlon silver medallist Denise Lewis joined Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Chris Smith MP to launch the games in Victoria.

John Thynne

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