THE countdown is on and there are now just six weeks until the first Leigh Games.

Excitement is growing as planning gets under way for what promises to be the biggest sporting event for young people in Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton, Lowton, Golborne and further afield.

It will take place at Leigh Sports Village over two days – Monday, July 1 will be especially for primary schoolchildren, while Tuesday, July 2 is for high school students.

But everyone will be invited to come down to Leigh Sports Village – parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles – and make the community event one to remember.

MP Andy Burnham said the Leigh Games will be a fitting local legacy to the 2012 London Olympics and he called on all schools to take part.

“This will be a fantastic opportunity for the whole community to come together and celebrate the achievements of our young people,” he said.

“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.”

Organisers have now released details of the two-day sporting extravaganza.

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

And this week the Journal can reveal that former NBA Basketball legend John Amaechi is lending his support to 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 event and on July 2 sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Jason Gardener will be on hand for the secondary school games.

Supermarket giant Morrisons, which has a store opposite Leigh Sports Village, and Golborne-based Alpla UK Ltd are supporting the packed two-day event as sponsors.

Mr Burnham also praised the efforts of schools sports co-ordination Lesley McGreevy, who has been instrumental in helping to organise the event, along with Leigh Sports Village, Wigan and Leigh Culture Leisure Trust, Leigh Harriers, Active Energy and Premier Support.

  • NOW it’s your turn to get involved in the Leigh Games.

Over the coming weeks we will be building up to the two-day event and featuring some of the school teams and pupils taking part.

As well as sending our Journal photographers out and about, we want schools to let us know what events they will be competing in, what they are doing in preparation for July and to send us their training pictures and videos.

Plus we want parents, grandparents and other relatives to send us their good luck messages for the pupils taking part.

And we are also on the lookout for dance groups, performers and organisations who would be interested in providing entertainment during the day and help to make the Leigh Games a fun-filled day for all the family.

To get in touch email hayley.smith@nqnw.co.uk, call 01925 434110 or visit our website at leighjournal.co.uk/leighgames