SATURDAY, May 8 will see around 1,200 children taking part in one of the
Isle of Man's most successful sporting events unaware that it was two young men then working at the National Sports Centre who conceived the idea of what has become the HSBC Manx Youth Games.

That was all of 10 years ago and today the same two, Paul Bridson and Gianni
Epifani, are still working at the NSC where Paul is now sports development
manager and Gianni sports development officer.
While several counties across the British Isles had such games in different
formats there was then nothing on the Isle of Man so we set about creating
our own recipe for the Island, using some of the best ideas from youth
games in Merseyside and Northern Ireland, recalls Gianni.

One of the main reasons we set up the Games was to get more children on the
Island into sport and help them develop through clubs and competitions, he
adds.  Sport for many of them becomes a lifetime involvement and sees them
making new friends and possibly, as adults, their future partners.  It
instils strength of character along with skills which can translate into
other areas of life.

The HSBC Manx Youth Games are now in their ninth year and on May 8 both
Gianni and Paul will be on duty when children between the ages of eight and
14 from schools the length and breadth of the Island will take part in a
spectacular parade as they march into the Bowl Football Stadium at the start
of this years event.

While the Games do produce successful athletes who go on to national and
international success they also provide opportunities for children who may
never have got involved in sport to Œhave a go and enjoy not only junior
sports but healthy and active lifestyles as they become adults, says Paul.

Ten years ago many of the sports didn't have an infra-structure but today
more of them have junior leagues and competitions backed up by adult
volunteers and coaches and the Games this year will see around 300
volunteers involved.

Planning for the HSBC Manx Youth Games started in September, involving five
regions and 12 different sports, while demand for facilities is now
out-stripping supply.  The success of the Games has created a problem in
finding space to do all the activities, says Paul

We hopefully create an environment where children can enjoy sport and the
HSBC Manx Youth Games offer them a positive and enjoyable experience where
they can have fun and meet up with friends.
Manx Youth Games have been sponsored by HSBC since their inception and will
again be sponsored by the Bank in 2011, the tenth anniversary year.

Gianni Epifani (left) and Paul Bridson