Archive News Item

For one day, Llanidloes became Wales’ extreme sports hotspot on Saturday 23 June as it hosted the first ever Powys X Games event, which aimed to encourage children with limited interest in traditional sports to try something a bit different.

With Great Oak Street closed to traffic, over 100 youngsters between the ages of 11 and 18 participated in street sports activities such as wheelchair and street basketball, freestyle gymnastics, skateboarding, archery, street sprinting and cheerleading, with power kiting and mountain biking also taking place just outside the town centre.

The crowds in attendance were kept entertained thanks to a performance from the Savage Skills mountain bike display team who wooed them with a vast array of stunts and tricks on two wheels.

Tricia Turner, Sports Development Officer for Powys County Council said: “Sport Powys has put on a large number of events across the county to bring a little of the Olympic fever to the area, and this event was the first to provide non-traditional activities to the older youth age group.

“We are hoping that all the events we have organised, such as the Mini Olympics events which have taken place all over the county, provide Powys with a lasting sporting legacy for years to come.”

Katie Hamer, Sports Development Officer added: “we were extremely lucky with the weather and are pleased that the event was well attended and ran so smoothly.

“It was really enjoyable seeing young people participate in non traditional type activities and hopefully we’ll see more people enthusiastic to participate in sporting activities as a result.”