Gareth Bale’s Festival of Sport Breaks Barriers for Young People in Wales

Article by : Akshat Kandya

The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport wore a vibrant look, infused with zeal and energy last weekend as it played host to the 4th Annual Gareth Bale Sports Festival. The day was a spectacle of talent and pure joy as over 100 enthusiastic young people from across Wales came together to have fun and make memories.

For the first time basketball played a prominent role at the event as Basketball Wales unveiled it’s brand new portable basketball court allowing all the young people in attendance to test their shooting skills and play some 3×3 games.

Organized by Street Games, the event aims to break social barriers obstructing young people’s participation and engagement in sport. The participants enjoyed a wide range of sports including Golf, Squash, Football, Athletics, Boxing Skateboarding and of course Basketball.

The presence of Welsh football legend Gareth Bale at the event had a deep impact on those in attendance with his commitment to support community sport.

The festival emphasized the message that- sport is accessible to everyone regardless of their background. The event had a lasting impression on every child in attendance.

Gareth was keen to showcase his basketball skills by joining in with shooting games and reminding everyone that he can hoop!

Back in 2015 Gareth Bale took part in the NBA Half-Court Challenge where the former footballer sunk three out of five shots and topped the NBA UK leaderboard at the time.

Bale has always expressed his long-standing interest n basketball, mentioning his support for the Miami Heat and his admiration for NBA superstar Lebron James. Since retiring from football in April 2024, Bale announced hew was joining forces with NBA star Stephan Curry for a new venture

Sharing his thoughts on the event, Basketball Wales’s Participation and Inclusions Officer, Sam Gilbert said:

“It was a remarkable event that brought together young people from across Wales for a day dedicated to sport, community and inspiration as meeting one of Wales’s most iconic sporting figures in Gareth Bale turned the event into an unforgettable experience for those in attendance. The event highlighted the power of sport to build confidence and connections among young people”