Details of the event were announced at a press conference in Coventry attended by local hero and Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Marlon Devonish, who is an ambassador for the 2007 Games.

1300 children will compete in the 2007 UK School Games which will be held at 5 venues around the city from 23rd to 26th August. That's 300 more competitors than at the inaugural UK School Games in Glasgow last September.

Three new sports, badminton, judo and volleyball, have been added to the 5 sports of athletics, fencing, gymnastics, swimming and table tennis, which featured in the 2006 Games. Disability events in athletics and swimming will also be included.

The UK School Games is for the best youngsters of school age who will be selected to compete by their sport's governing body. It is not a school versus school competition.

The event has been designed to replicate a major adult multi-sport competition and will have an opening and closing ceremony plus an athlete's village.

£2.3 million in National Lottery funding has been awarded to the Youth Sport Trust through the Big Lottery Fund, to develop the UK School Games until 2011 and for the 2007 Games in Coventry. Visa is the presenting sponsor of the 2007 Games which are also being supported by Coventry City Council.

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