Get ready for our own Village Olympics!

While the nation remains on tenterhooks for results in the Paris Paralympics, more than 1,200 children are gearing up to celebrate Saddleworth’s very own Village Olympics this weekend.

On Saturday, the much-loved Saddleworth Village Olympics' colourful opening ceremony launches at 9am at Saddleworth School, Diggle, followed by the heavily contested athletics and tug of war events.

And a secret special guest with four remarkable Guinness World records will help open the games this year.

There’ll be the usual stalls, food venders and this year Saddleworth School is opening their canteen to serve food and drinks too.

In addition, there will be a sweet stall run by Saddleworth Rangers, a Pizza Oven and the Gate Inn’s catering van offering food, including their amazing loaded fries.

And the proud organisers say the games, now it’s in 39th year, grows stronger every year.

For example, this year a new registration model was launched where parents and carers register their details and then add their children to their account - meaning they won’t have to register their details every year - just simply  update their children’s details each year.

The SVO’s industrious chairman, Stephen Hewitt, said: “Seeing the opening ceremony come to life this weekend will make all the hardwork and stress worthwhile.

“I’d like to thank all the sponsors and donations we’ve received that make the games possible.

"Thanks to all the volunteers from central committee, to coaches and team leaders who ensure the games can go ahead and start planning as early as April.

"Without them there’d be no games.

“I’d like to wish all the competitors the best of look in the games this year, remember it’s taking part that really counts and making new friends along the way.

"If you win, fantastic, if not, as long as you have fun that’s the main thing.”

He added: "I hope you’ve been watching the paralympic games in Paris and seen how great those athletes are and they’ve hopefully inspired you to do your best in our games.”

Delph Youth Band will again be on hand to help open the SVO.

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