Jersey Commonwealth Games Acorn Schools Partnership

To celebrate Commonwealth Day on Monday 13^th March, the Commonwealth Games Association Jersey (CGAJ) hosted a sports bonanza at Fort Regent for more than 100 primary school children.

The CGAJ worked with the Sports Development team at Fort Regent to co-ordinate the event which will gave youngsters the opportunity to experience a wide variety of sports including gymnastics, judo, boxing and shooting (all sports Jersey will compete in at the 2018 Games).  They also enjoyed sessions on keeping fit and the benefits of sport.

The Sports Bonanza was made possible thanks to our three year sponsorship agreement with the CGAJ.  This is the first Commonwealth Games Schools’ Partnership event.  “The partnership sees pupils track the progress of the Jersey team as they prepare for the Games in 2018, as well as providing support for the schools and their pupils with their sports programmes.   We are delighted to be involved and enabling so many young children to see first-hand the benefits of sport.” explained Nicky de Veulle, Group Operations Director for Acorn.

Pupils from St Lukes, St Clement and D’Auvergne primary schools have volunteered to twin with two primary schools on the Gold Coast, Australia (the venue for the Commonwealth Games 2018).  The pupils have already started making contact with their peers in Australia and will enjoy a series of events and educational initiatives over the next twelve months, all relating to the Commonwealth and sports theme.

The Sports Bonanza event coincided with the Queen’s launch of the Commonwealth Games “Baton Relay” from Buckingham Palace.  The baton has started its journey to the 70 countries that will be attending the games on the Gold Coast, Australia in April 2018. The CGAJ was represented at the palace by General Secretary Paul Huddlestone.