Competitors from Christchurch are now being sought The International Games of Friendship

The International Games of Friendship to be hosted by Christchurch in April 2010 have been awarded 20,324 euros from the European Commission as part of its Europe for Citizens programme.

The Games are for young people aged 14 to 16 years and the event takes place every two years in one of a number of European countries twinned with each other.

Representatives from St Lô in France, Aalen in Germany, Tatabánya in Hungary, St Ghislain in Belgium and Sierakowice in Poland will be travelling to Christchurch for the Games, which will be held at Avon Tyrrell Youth Centre in Bransgore from 12 to 16 April 2010.

Each town will be sending a team of ten girls and ten boys to take part in swimming, running, football, unihockey and other sporting fun events.

The grant from the European Commission has come about following a bid that was made by Christchurch Council for funding under the Active Citizens for Europe part of the Europe for Citizens programme. This encourages “bringing together people from local communities across Europe to share and exchange experiences, opinions and values, to learn from history and to build for the future. It seeks to encourage meetings, exchanges and debates among European citizens from different countries and through different means.”

The funding adds to money which has already been promised by Christchurch Borough Council, Christchurch & District Sports Council, Christchurch Community Partnership and Christchurch Rotary.

Cllr Mike Duckworth, a member of the Games Organising Committee’s fundraising body, said: “This is wonderful news and means that we will be able to mount a very professional event without the financial worry that would come if there was a funding shortfall. We are very grateful to all of the organisations that have already promised funding, but this European grant is really the icing on the cake.”

Competitors from Christchurch are now being sought for the Games. Anyone who will be aged 14 to 16 in April 2010 is eligible to apply. Further details and an application form can be found at http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=387531 or at www.gamesoffriendship.org. The closing date for registrations is 15 January.