SportsFest at Millennium Point

Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis will be the guest of honour at this year’s SportFest, which returns to the city centre on Sunday 16 September. Birmingham’s biggest and best sports festival, SportsFest is completely free and will be held at Millennium Point from 10am until 4pm

The event, which was established four years ago by Birmingham City Council, to help in the fight against childhood obesity by encouraging young people to be more active, is aimed at youngsters aged between 7 and 14.

SportsFest will showcase a huge variety of sports which, amongst others, will include football, netball, tennis, hockey, athletics and golf and for the first time ever there are plans to feature boxing. There will also be activities for young people with disabilities.

Olympic Champion Denise Lewis has signed up to be an ambassador for the event and said:  “I am delighted to be involved with SportsFest as I think it is a great opportunity to encourage young people to be more active and get involved in sport. I hope that thousands of youngsters come along to SportsFest and experience just how much fun sport can be.”

Each sport will have its own ‘zone’, which is run by expert coaches and sports development officers, and includes various skills sessions and activities relating to that sport. The experts will be able to provide tips on how youngsters can improve their skills and will also be on the look out for talented youngsters who have the potential to be future sporting champions.

SportsFest is organised by Birmingham City Council and Councillor Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said: “SportsFest is another example of the council providing great free events for local families and it provides a fun opportunity for young people to either develop their skills at a sport they already enjoy or gives them a chance to try a huge variety of new sports. “

This year’s SportsFest, the fourth annual staging of the event, is supported by Marketing Birmingham through their ‘1 Birmingham – We Love Our Sport’ campaign and their Marketing Director, Dave Hodgson, explains why: "Birmingham is a great sporting city with a strong history and internationally renowned clubs and venues.  The 1Birmingham: We Love Our Sport campaign is designed to encourage people to engage with sport and celebrate Birmingham's sporting heritage.

 "We are delighted to support SportsFest which brings sport to the city and encourages young people to get involved.  Birmingham is the youngest city in Europe, with more under 15s than any other major city, and SportsFest will play an important role in helping to nurture the talent of tomorrow to ensure that Birmingham remains at the top of its game."

At SportsFest all the family will be able to find out how they can be fitter and healthier and there will be the chance to discover what activities are available at your local leisure centre and swimming pool. There will also be lively demonstrations of different adult exercise classes available in centres across the city.

 SportsFest is supported by Millennium Point, the Birmingham Mail and BBC WM. To find out more about SportsFest call 0121 202 5066 or log onto www.visitbirmingham.com/sport.

SportsFest also coincides with two other great events. Continuing the sporty theme, the Hydro Active Women’s Challenge, also on Sunday 16 September, will see thousands of women of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels take to Broad Street and the Hagley Road in a 5km fun run.

The city’s 10th annual ArtsFest will also be held on the same weekend with activities being staged from Friday 14 September until Sunday 16 September. Fireworks, fanfares and behind-the scene tours will herald the return of ArtsFest, which is the country’s largest free arts festival and is organised by Birmingham City Council.

For more information about the Hydro Active Women’s Challenge log onto www.womenschallenge.co.uk and for more information about ArtsFest call 0121 464 5678 or log onto www.artsfest.org.uk.