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Game on! RGU: SPORT hosts event for leaders of tomorrow

Robert Gordon University's leading-edge sports facility, RGU: SPORT, is set to host one of six free conferences for young people aimed at developing their leadership skills and harnessing their enthusiasm in the build-up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Taking place on Thursday 28 April, the one-day conference for school pupils at RGU is part of Lead 2014 - an exciting programme of events set up by sportscotland and Youth Sport Trust, in association with Glasgow 2014. The other conferences will take place at the Universities of St Andrews, Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Stirling and the University of West of Scotland.

Targeted at young people aged 14+ the conference in Aberdeen will see students from the University leading workshops on event management to inspire the school pupils to subsequently organise and deliver Commonwealth Games themed sports festivals within their own school community.

Closely linked to existing leadership work in schools, Lead 2014 will encourage Scottish support for the Games while giving young people a unique opportunity to develop and enhance their leadership skills. Parallel workshops will also be run for teachers highlighting the ways in which they can support teams comprised of young leaders.

Filippo Antoniazzi is Director of Sport at RGU: SPORT. He said: "We are really excited to be involved with this programme. Lead 2014 will give key leadership training to our student volunteers as well as provide excellent practical delivery experience which will help differentiate them from other graduates in the marketplace. I hope the pupils attending the day will have a fantastic time and will also be able to increase the physical activity and sport in their own school settings."

Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "Creating the next generation of leaders and volunteers in sport is a vital part of the Youth Sport Trust's work.

"Lead 2014 represents a fantastic opportunity to ensure that, through sport and the exciting opportunity of Glasgow 2014, young people can learn and develop skills which are vital throughout life such as teamwork, financial management and communication."

Chair of sportscotland, Louise Martin CBE, said: "With the Commonwealth Games on the horizon, sportscotland, working in partnership with Youth Sport Trust and Glasgow 2014, recognise the importance of harnessing and nurturing the enthusiasm of thousands of young Scots.

"Through Lead 2014, Scotland's younger generation will be given the tools and endless encouragement to use their own initiative to host events across the country and play an active part in celebrating the coming of the Games."

Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, John Scott, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for more young people to get involved with Glasgow 2014 and to benefit from the Commonwealth Games being hosted in Scotland.

"The Commonwealth Games is about Glasgow having a responsibility to deliver a large multi-sport event on a world stage. Lead 2014 aims to extend these lessons to young people across Scotland, and I am sure they will rise to the challenge and we look forward to working with everyone in the build up to Glasgow 2014."

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