There is nothing quite like being at a live sporting event. Whether it is the anticipation of what you're about to see; the electric atmosphere that it creates; or simply the excitement of seeing sports stars competing at the top of their game; it really is something special and often makes the hair stand up on the back your neck.

These are the very emotions I was lucky enough to experience only recently as I attended the Sainsbury's UK School Games in Sheffield - a major multisport event which the Youth Sport Trust has been proud to deliver for the last six years.

More than 1,600 young people competed across 12 different sports in a range of top quality venues - it really was something to behold. With an athletes' village and opening and closing ceremonies the experience the competitors take from this event will hold them in good stead should they go on to future sporting glory in their careers.

There is no finer example of this, and no greater advocate of the Sainsbury's UK School Games, than the double Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds.·A competitor at the Games when they first got underway in Glasgow back in 2006, Ellie returned this year to officially open the event.·Ellie has made the full journey from starting out in a career with hopes and aspirations, to realising her goals on the world stage and is one of the many UK School Games success stories.·In Sheffield this year we saw Jessica Applegate (pictured) smash a world junior record in the disability swimming - I can't help wondering whether we are about to see another sporting career flourish off the back of the Games?


Whilst quite rightly the competitors often take centre stage at the UK School Games as they bid for the medals we must also pay immense credit to those who help make this event possible. As I toured the venues this year the enthusiasm and dedication of the hundreds of young volunteers and officials deserves special praise and recognition. This is an event about young people, for young people, and seeing the enjoyment of those supporting the games in these roles is as rewarding as watching those actually competing.

I must also pay tribute to the Youth Sport Trust (YST) staff who gave up so much of their time to take on a whole host of different support roles at the games. It is no secret that it has been a challenging year for the Youth Sport Trust, as it has been for many involved in school sport, but the professionalism of the YST staff and the friendly welcome they gave to all that attended shows what a great team we have.

Credit must also be given to those who have shown their continued support and funding for the UK School Games. Without the financial contributions of Legacy Trust UK, Sainsbury's and Sport England the games would simply not be the success story they have now become. All our UK School Games partners including the NGB's who work so hard and dedicate so much time and effort in preparing and managing the squads and UK Anti-Doping who run an education programme help make the games a top quality event - it really is a team effort.

As we now move towards the new School Games format and the prospect of a home Olympics and Paralympics in 2012 it is a truly momentous time for sport. I personally cannot wait for that feeling of anticipation and excitement to return - and for the hair on the back of my neck to be standing up once again.

Baroness Sue Campbell is acting chief executive of Youth Sport Trust and the chair of UK Sport