Future sporting greats enjoy first taste of top-class competition

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."