Amber Valley is to host this year's Mini Olympics, which brings together 32 young people from four European countries to take part in sporting and cultural activities to coincide with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Eight young people from, Glogów in Poland and from Laholm in Sweden will join eight students from Amber Valley to take part in the event, which the three countries traditionally take in turns to host. This year, through Ripley's twinning association, a group of eight young people from Chateau Renault in France will also be taking part.

The eight-day Mini Olympics is being organised by the School Sports Partnership in conjunction with Amber Valley Borough Council. It opens with a welcoming reception on Thursday 28 June, hosted by The Mayor of Amber Valley, and will include events such as cycling, archery, orienteering and even a football match themed on England's Euro 2012 qualifying group. Youngsters will form multi-nationality teams to take part in a wide range of sports and other events as part of the Mini Olympics, which has been running since 2002 and also previously included young people from Finland and Germany.
The Mini Olympics programme will also take in the Olympic Torch Relay as it travels through Derbyshire and a visit to the London Olympic Park.

Local authority officials representing the three areas will also visit the Borough to learn about its culture and history and to build business links.

Councillor Chris Short, Cabinet Member for Active and Healthier Places to Live said: "I am thrilled that we are hosting such an important event which is designed to build sustainable friendships across cultures and build business links between our partners in Europe and to encourage participation in physical activity -one of the Council's' key priorities. The young people participating were selected due to their sporting achievements and leadership qualities and I am sure our students will learn as much from them, as they will from us, and I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of them in such an important year for sport and culture in the UK."

The event will close on Wednesday 4 July.
A timetable of events throughout the visit is available here.

Notes to editors

Photographers and media are welcome to attend The Mayor's Reception which will take place at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick on Thursday 28 June at 7pm. A team building event for the Mini Olympians will also take place on Tuesday 12 June from 4pm to 5.30pm at Swanwick Sports College on Hayes Lane in Alfreton. Photographers are welcome to any of the events. Further timings are available on request. A pre event photograph is available on request.

For further information please contact Luke Barrett Communications Manager on 01773 841 655 or email luke.barrett@ambervalley.gov.uk