PUPILS from Inverclyde’s six secondary schools are benefiting from a new two-year programme to give them opportunities to compete in sports.

National agency Sportscotland is piloting a School Sport Competition programme in eight local authority areas, including Inverclyde.

Local sports chiefs have designed the scheme to give young people in S1 and S2 structured competition in seven activities on a regular basis.

The games began with an all-day rugby session at Fort Matilda, the home of Greenock Wanderers.

It proved a huge success with competitors and coaches — and organisers hope the new programme will open doors for youngsters who are keen to get active.

Councillor Terry Loughran, education and communities convener, said: “There is no doubt that sport is for all but it is by its very nature competitive.

“We provide first class sporting facilities in our brand new and refurbished schools so it is only logical that we help pupils who want to take part in competitions.

“This is a great opportunity that sportscotland have given us and I know from speaking to some of the young people taking part they are enjoying themselves enormously and benefiting from the health and social advantages sport brings.” Several sports are included in the project — netball, boys’ and girls’ football, basketball, golf, athletics and rugby — and they are all linked to local clubs in the community.

Kenny Brown, partnership manager at sportscotland, said: “We are currently running a school sport competition pilot in eight local authority areas across Scotland.

“The pilot is designed to create more and better opportunities for young people to take part in competitive school sport; locally, regionally and nationally.

”It’s fantastic that Inverclyde has embraced the concept and we hope that the pupils who take part really enjoy the experience.” The whole programme of sports will culminate in a showcase presentation at the end of June next year, where awards for each individual sport will be presented and the overall winning school will be announced.

See today's Tele for full pictures.