UK Sport’s anti-doping education programme, 100% ME, was once again a prominent part of this year’s UK School Games, which was staged last week in South Wales.
The 2009 Games took place from 3-6 September in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea and featured over 1600 elite school-aged athletes competing across 10 sports. The event, organised by the Youth Sport Trust, provides a platform to experience a multi-sport event and prepare them for the atmosphere of a major games. Building on a hugely successful programme at the 2008 event, the 100% ME team returned and added an essential dimension to what life is like as an elite athlete.
One of the main highlights of the event was the presence of Mock Doping Control stations at a number of competition venues. In order for athletes to fully understand this process, Doping Control Officers (DCOs) were present to walk athletes through how drug testing works in practice. Whilst there was no requirement to actually provide a sample, athletes were taken through the process step-by-step, from the notification through to the sample collection procedures.
Across the three days of competition, the 100% ME team also ran a series of outreach events to enable athletes, parents and coaches to increase their understanding of drug-free sport with face-to-face education and advice, which included visual displays, handouts, case studies and quizzes.
Joe Marshall, UK Sport’s Education and Information Manager for Drug-Free Sport, was in no doubt of the benefits of attending the Games:
“Having observed our input at the 2008 UK School Games, it was a privilege to be able to return this year. This is a world leading event that seeks to replicate the atmosphere and excitement of a major games like the Olympics, Paralympics or Commonwealth Games. We consider it very important to not only reach out to athletes at the earlier stages of their career but make their Games experience more real by simulating the requirements of doping control.
“Multi-sports events are not just about the thrill of competing. There are additional responsibilities that come with this, such as competing clean. By being present in Wales, we were doing our job in not only making sure the stars of the future are aware of the dangers, but the role they themselves must play in the anti-doping fight.”
