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Football legend Gareth Bale continued to inspire the next generation as he stepped up his drive to promote sporting opportunities for young people at the Celtic Manor Resort.
The fourth annual Gareth Bale Festival of Sport took place on Saturday 20th September and saw more than 100 children from some of the most underserved communities in Wales given the chance to try out a wide variety of sports.
Organised in partnership between StreetGames, Celtic Manor, Wales Golf and CAA Sports – with support from the R&A – the festival saw Bale take part in sports including tennis, boxing, basketball, athletics and football as he encouraged youngsters to enjoy the social and well-being benefits of sporting activity.
Bale also took part in Q&A sessions with the young participants, answering questions on the glittering football career which took him to five Champions League titles with Real Madrid and the semi-finals of Euro 2016 as Wales’s record goalscorer.
Bale said: “The Festival of Sport is something I look forward to every year. It’s vital we give young people the chance to try sports for the first time. As a boy, I played every sport I could and I’m sure that helped me to develop as an athlete. That’s why it’s been great to see the smiles on these young athletes’ faces today as they play sports they maybe have never had the chance to try before.”
Rhiannon Sheen de Jesus, Regional Partnership Manager for StreetGames Wales, said: “At StreetGames, we are committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that all young people, regardless of background, have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of sport. The Gareth Bale Festival of Sport is a perfect example of how we can provide children with the chance to explore a range of sports, helping them find their passion and stay active. This event is also a critical step in our mission to establish year-round, multisport opportunities in underserved communities, opening pathways for young people to grow into volunteers and community leaders.”
