One week after China handed Britain the blazing Olympic

torch, Bath fencing champion Sophie Williams passed on another

sporting baton.

Hundreds of young athletes gathered for the closing ceremony

of the UK School Games at Bath University, and Sophie, 16, who

won silver at the games, passed the symbolic baton from the

South West organisers to next year's host, Wales.

Young Olympic hopefuls were left fired up for the 2012

Olympics after the School Games, which is seen as a springboard

for the world-class event.

Annabel Hockey-Smith, 18, from Somerset, who was in the

gold-medal winning England hockey team, said: "It's been a

great opportunity and hopefully sets us in good stead for the

next stage. It was such a good atmosphere – a real buzz – and

an inspirational event that makes me want to work even harder

to reach the next stage. The Olympics are only four years away,

so it's not that long."

More than 1,500 young athletes attended yesterday's closing

ceremony, alongside the games' ambassador Jason Gardner, from

Bath, and sports presenter, Jill Douglas. It coincided with

Sports Secretary Andy Burnham's pledge to pour £3 million into

school sport in the South West by the time of the 2012 London

Olympics.

Double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington attended the opening

ceremony on Thursday.

Event Director Mark De St Croix said: "It's the first time

many of the competitors have been involved in a competition of

this size and it gives them an opportunity to meet the Olympic

athletes as well as young people who compete in other sports in

their off time."

Reporters and BBC television cameras were present in Bath

for the games. Mr De St Croix said: "Everyone is coping well

with the limelight and some are extremely confident in it.

"It's a good experience to have and prepares them for the

next big events."

The Olympic hopefuls are now firing up for next year's UK

School Games, which will be held in Cardiff and Swansea.

Competitor Tim Stranks, 15, from Gloucester competed for

England in the men's singles in badminton. He said: "It's been

a great experience because it has an Olympic feeling to it. I

definitely want to be in the British Squad and go to the

Olympics and win a gold medal."