The view that "competition teaches life skills" is often used by people explaining why there should be winners and losers in sport.

I can only speak from my own experiences whilst growing up, having children and what I’ve seen during the many school visits I have been on.

Children are naturally competitive, whether that be when trying to tie their shoelaces before their brother or sister or being the first one to guess the answer to "I spy with my little eye" whilst sat in the back of the car on the way home from school.

For me, sport provides the best environment for children to learn what competition is, how it can be related to everyday life and the skills it can give them which they will use, often without even realising, when they get older.

Not wanting to fall behind in lessons, working on a group science project, being respectful to others in class or reacting with grace when they’ve sailed through an exam while their best friend’s flunked it - these real life situations in school require self-discipline, teamwork, fair play and respect, which are all skills sport can offer.   

This is of course not even considering the health benefits of sport and physical activity.

When packaged effectively and appropriately, I believe competitive sport can enhance the lives of every young person.

Challenging a child to beat his or her own PB is as important as encouraging a school team to overcome their opponents.     

There is still the problem that too often the same children represent their school football, rugby, hockey or netball teams.

However, competitive sport is being put back at the heart of schools which means there is an ever increasing number of opportunities for young people to enjoy and benefit from competition regardless of their age or ability.

For those young people who demonstrate talent good enough for them to consider a career in sport and they have a hunger which drives them to compete and be the best, there are more opportunities for them outside of school.

This is shown in the improvements being made to how young people can progress from school sport, to county, to regional and national competition through the work involving the national governing bodies.

Last year, over 2.7 million pupils aged five to 16 regularly took part in competition between schools.

The Sainsbury’s UK School Games, an event which I’ve been to a few times since my retirement, are a really important stepping stone for many talented young athletes looking to make it in elite sport.



The Games, which this year take place in the North East of England from September 2-5, will see around 1,600 school-age athletes  experiencing an environment similar to that of the Olympics, Paralympics or Commonwealth Games - it’s certainly something I wish had been around when I was young.

It’s a multi-sport event with an Opening and Closing Ceremony and Athletes’ Village which many, if not all of them, will not have tasted before.

I’ve no doubt there will be some competitors who will be overawed and let the nerves get to them whilst others will simply thrive on the pressure and atmosphere and achieve PBs or win medals which they didn’t think possible before the Games.

The key point is however they perform or whatever they achieve, it’s an experience they will never forget and an invaluable lesson as they embark on their sporting careers.

Going to a major championship, mixing with other athletes, interacting with a crowd or dealing with the media can affect different athletes in different ways.

Being able to handle all these external pressures whilst still performing when it matters most is what separates medallists from also-rans.

The Sainsbury’s UK School Games are a fantastic opportunity for these youngsters to learn their trade so that they are not overawed when they earn senior selection and compete on the biggest stages in sport.

We all know the knock-on effect of success achieved by our country’s athletes in international sport.

The euphoria seen back home when Great Britain’s athletes achieved their incredible success at the 2008 Beijing Olympics followed by our inspirational Paralympians a few weeks later was huge.

Should England win the World Cup in South Africa this summer then I think the country will witness a feel-good factor of unrivalled proportions.

Competitive sport has the ability to inspire those watching as much as those playing, which is why the opportunities presented by London 2012 are so exciting.

There’s no doubt there will be a surge in the numbers of young people wanting to take up the Olympic and Paralympic sports which they will have just watched on TV - but more likely the sports in which we’ve been successful.

Children will always want to emulate their heroes, the people they respect, the people who they perceive to be winners in life. This applies to musicians, teachers, doctors, even bankers and brings me back to the point I made about competition teaching children life skills.

By creating an environment in school where all young people can learn, enjoy and achieve through competitive sport, this experience can help them develop socially, break down cultural barriers, assess risk and when to take it, but above all allow them to realise their potential and self-belief. 

Jason Gardener was a member of the Great Britain 4x100 metres relay team who struck gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and is a former world indoor 60m champion. He is now a School Sport Ambassador with the Youth Sport Trust.