Preston City Games to return this summer

Businesses and charities will face off across a variety of sports when the Preston City Games returns this summer.

The tournament, once known as the UK Corporate Games, will begin on June 30.

The sporting festival pits teams of businesses and charities against each other in a tournament of rounders, football, netball and golf.

The rounders, football and netball games will kick off on Friday 30th June at UCLan Sports Arena, followed on Friday 7th July by the golf tournament at Ashton & Lea Golf Club.

Preston City Games was first launched as the UK Corporate Games in 2012 as an opportunity for organisations of all sizes to encourage staff to take part in fun physical activity which enhances teamwork, mental health, wellbeing and motivation.

This year's festivities have been organised by Shout Connect, the University of Central Lancashire and Preston City Council.

Dr Adrian Ibbetson, director of sport at UCLan, said: "We are proud to be a partner in the rekindling of the Preston City Games. At UCLan we are striving to be a healthy and active university and to look after our peoples’ wellbeing.

"We see the games as being an outlet for staff to enjoy being physically active whilst also fostering a sense of pride and belonging by representing the university in this competition.”

Adrian Phillips, chief executive at Preston City Council, said: "We are delighted to be able to host the City Games - a chance for local business and community organisations to come together to take part in a number of different sports for a fun and healthy competition."

Ian Coupe, director of Shout Connect, is keen to get as many businesses as possible involved: “As a business provider we know that businesses and charities relish this kind of fun, relaxed event where they can make many new contacts without having to always talk business. City Games is always a great day and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Businesses and charities are invited to enter as many teams as they like with a varying number of players required for each sport. The cost of entry starts from just £15 per player.