Glorious sunshine welcomed 45 European students to Chester for an International Youth Games hosted by Chester International Links Association.
Mixed teams of boys and girls from Lorrach (Germany), Sens (France) and Senigallia (Italy), together with students from Blacon High School, representing Chester, descended on the University of Chester campus and took part in three days of sporting and cultural exchanges.
The students were divided into mixed teams so that they could interact with other nationalities, and spent the first evening in a bonding session of discussion and team building activities.
The Games were officially opened on Saturday morning by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Bob Rudd, and the Lady Mayoress Sandra Rudd.
Showing great competitive spirit, the students then engaged in several sports including, football, indoor rowing, rounders, dodgeball, touch rugby and swimming.
Free time during the weekend also allowed visits to the Cathedral, and the Walls, and the Italians also enjoyed a visit to Liverpool.
At the farewell dinner on Sunday evening, Lord Mayor of Chester Councillor Bob Rudd, and Chairman of Chester International Links Association, Eric Plenderleath awarded certificates to all competitors, and medals to the winning team and also outstanding competitors.
Eric Plenderleath thanked The University of Chester, its staff and students, for the enormous contribution it had made to the Games, in providing the sporting facilities, and managing the events. He also thanked the six CWaC councillors who had supported the Games with grants from their individual Community Awards budgets, and the three local charitable organisations, all who had supplemented Chester International Links Association funding of the weekends event.
Lee Cairns, head of P.E, at Blacon High School, said: “The pupils enjoyed the occasion so much, that they are already asking if they can go to next years games in Sens (France).”
