Over 180 teams made up of primary and secondary age pupils from Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster will compete in the 2016 South Yorkshire School Games Winter Festival.
 
The annual event will be held at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EIS Sheffield), which is part of the Olympic Legacy Park, on Wednesday 9 March.
 
It will kick off with an Olympic-style opening ceremony and athletes’ parade around the 200m indoor track at EIS Sheffield where Jessica Ennis-Hill is preparing for the Brazil Games this summer.
 
There will also be performances by a dance group from Westfield School, Sheffield, and a talented singer from Wickersley School and Sports College, who were chosen as winners of a South Yorkshire’s Got Talent competition.
 
The youngsters will take part in eight sporting competitions including handball and indoor canoeing, which are both making their South Yorkshire School Games debuts.
 
The other sports are Sports Hall Athletics, gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball, Boccia and New Age Kurling.
 
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three schools in each event.
 
A spectator zone will feature demonstrations and challenges with freestyle football star Ash Randall, Skipping School, table tennis and basketball activities.
 
The South Yorkshire School Games are sponsored locally by The Education Network.