An Aberdeen festival of sport is set to kick off this Friday offering nine days of free family sport and activities.
The Denis Law Legacy Trust Community Festival is set to take place from July 22 - 31 with a packed timetable of activities, including family sports days and football tournaments for varying ages and abilities.
Hosted at Aberdeen Sports Village and in partnership with Denis Law Legacy Trust, the Scottish Football Association and Aberdeen & District Juvenile Football Association, the festival is supported and endorsed by Aberdonian Denis Law, the legendary figure and Patron of the Trust who remains Scotland’s only Ballon d’Or winner.
Denis Law, who has a statue at both ASV and in the city centre, said: “I’m personally thrilled that the festival is making its return this year and particularly hope that families in Aberdeen enjoy their days of free sport together.”
It is estimated that more than 1500 participants will take part in the activities and North-east businesses are being encouraged to support the festival by entering a team in the Corporate 7’s.
The full timetable for the festival has now been launched and features a range of family activities, including badminton, squash, swimming, and table tennis, as well as football.
ASV run and manage the tournament on behalf of Denis Law Legacy Trust. ASV Head of Sports & Events, Graham Morrison, said: “The Denis Law Legacy Trust Community Football Festival has been an exciting part of our summer programme in the past and it’s great to see it return. Encouraging people from across our community to get involved in sport is a key focus for us. We want to see people of all ages and abilities using our facilities and getting excited about sport, so we are thrilled that thousands of visitors will be able to enjoy the festival and hopefully be inspired to get fit and choose a healthier lifestyle”
Alistair Findlater, Chair of Denis Law Legacy Trust, said: “We are delighted to see the return of the annual festival and look forward to working with ASV to make it bigger and better than ever.
“Providing free sport to communities across Aberdeen has been key to the charity and young people we work with, so to continue this with the Denis Law Legacy Trust Community Festival is hugely important. There are events for all ages and abilities and we hope that the festival will inspire people of all backgrounds to get involved in sport.”
A registered charity, Denis Law Legacy Trust operates and delivers a number of programmes that enable young people to engage in free sport and creative activities within their local communities throughout Aberdeen. Primarily through Streetsport, its flagship programme, the Trust aims to reduce instances of youth crime and anti-social behavior; promote health and wellbeing and encourage inclusivity through sport, physical activity and creative endeavor.
The community festival will culminate at ASV on Sunday July 31with an action-packed day consisting of the Womens 6’s Trophy, family activities and a girls festival.
Bookings for the festival can be made online via the ASV website at https://www.aberdeensportsvillage.com/families-kids/denis-law