The announcement was made as Chancellor Gordon Brown, Culture Secretary and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell and Sports Minister Richard Caborn watched an exhibition of school sports at Grey Coat Hospital School in London.

 

Jowell also announced a new youth volunteering scheme, with the charity v funding a Youth Sport Trust programme to give more than 3,000 16-18 year-olds the chance to become sports officials such as judges and umpires.

 

The UK School Games is a multi-sport event for the nation's most talented school age athletes. 

 

Launched last year, they will be held every year until 2012 and are designed to replicate the feel of
events like the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, with opening and closing ceremonies and athletes' villages.

 

The Government announced that the Games will be held in:

 

* The West of England (Bath and Bristol) in 2008

 

* Wales (Cardiff, Swansea and Newport) in 2009

 

* Tyne and Wear (Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland) in 2010

 

* Sheffield in 2011.

 

Brown said: "With the Olympic Games in 2012, and the UK School Games each year before then, I believe we are on the verge of the greatest sporting decade in Britain's history.

 

"I want every young person in the country to be inspired by these events to increase their own participation in sport, to challenge themselves as individuals, and to learn to play as part of a team."

 

Jowell added: "The UK School Games give our most talented school-age athletes the chance to compete as if they were taking part in an international competition.

 

"The crowds and cameras will help them learn that all-important big match temperament.

 

"And through the new youth volunteering scheme, we're working to produce the next generation of sports officials - they too could find themselves at the heart of the action in major sporting events of the future.

 

"I congratulate all the winning cities, wish the athletes good luck and look forward to watching four fantastic sporting events."

 

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Steve Grainger said:"We would like to congratulate the four winners chosen to host this inspirational sporting event for young people in the lead up to 2012.

 

"They will each play a central part in ensuring that the UK School Games gives thousands of young people the opportunity to showcase their talents on a national stage, as we strive to create more high quality competitive opportunities for school age children.

 

"We also hope their involvement will support them in their efforts to be recognised as locations that are capable of staging high quality major sporting events."

 

Big Lottery Fund chief executive Stephen Dunmore said: "The Big Lottery Fund has an extensive history of channelling its funding into the sporting landscape of the UK and we want our funding
to offer young people and diverse communities the opportunity to participate in the build up to 2012.

 

"The £3.5 million of Lottery money already awarded to the Youth Sport Trust has seen successful inaugural Games in Glasgow and an even bigger event which will take place in Coventry later this year.

 

"Today's announcement is fantastic news for the four new hosts, which, I am sure, will continue to take the School Games from strength to strength."

 

Sixteen-year-old Chris Bartlett, 2006 UK School Games triple jump gold medallist said: "I really enjoyed competing in the first UK School Games in Glasgow last summer and winning a gold medal made it even more special.

 

"The opening and closing ceremonies were brilliant and it was really good to mix with competitors from other sports in the athletes' village.

 

"The event really gave me an idea of what competing in a big competition at elite level might be like with the all the TV cameras there and it's an experience that I'll never forget."

 

At the launch today, potential competitors demonstrated their sporting prowess in gymnastics and fencing alongside pupils from Grey Coat School while some of the country's top young volleyball players showcased their skills.

 

For the 2007 UK School Games, three new sports - badminton, judo and volleyball - have been added to the five sports of athletics, fencing, gymnastics, swimming and table tennis that featured in the 2006 Games.

 

Disability events in athletics, table tennis and swimming will also be included. DCMS envisages that more sports may be added in future years.

 

The event took place for the first time in September 2006 in Glasgow, and this year will be held in Coventry.

 

The UK School Games are run on behalf of DCMS by the Youth Sport Trust. 

 

They are being funded with a £6 million Government investment, announced by the Chancellor in the 2006 budget, and £3.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund from 2007 through to 2011.

 

Visa is the presenting sponsor of the 2007 UK School Games, which are also being supported by Coventry City Council.