The multi-sport event for elite school-aged athletes saw over 11,400 people attend the competition in some capacity with 92 per cent of visitors residing outside of the North East.

It is estimated that the event created 12,200 overnight stays while 96.2 per cent of visitors felt Gateshead was a "very good" or "good" host city for sports events.

Exactly 91.4 per cent felt the same for Newcastle with 77.2 per cent for Sunderland and Steve Grainger, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust - the organisation that has successfully organised the event since its inception in 2006 - said he was delighted to learn the latest figures.

"The 2010 event was a huge success and these results show how the Sainsbury's UK School Games have had a positive impact on the North East of England," said Grainger.

"It brought thousands of visitors to the area, who not only enjoyed some top quality sport, but also spent time and money in the north east with many of them so impressed by the area they'd like to make a return visit."

When contrasted with the 2009 UK School Games which were hosted by Wales in the cities of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea; the results show a large increase in the event's impact.

The 2009 competition showed a total economic impact of £2.59 million ($4.17 million) for the region while 80 per cent of visitors to Wales resided outside of the area, a 12 per cent decrease from this year.

A majority of 96 per cent of survey respondents cited that the Sainsbury's UK School Games was the main reason for their visit to the North East cities on that day with 40 per cent of the total impact generated being by families of the competitors.

The average spend of a competitors family at the Games was £66.50 ($107.09) which covered items such as, food and drink, entertainment, merchandise, shopping and travel while 78.5 per cent of people stayed overnight and spent an average of £167.90 ($270.39).

Gateshead Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Linda Green, said: "Gateshead has a long history of staging high profile sporting events and we were so pleased to welcome the stars of the future for the Sainsbury's UK School Games in 2010.



"It was fantastic to see so many young people compete at such a high standard and we hope it will provide further inspiration to them and others in the future.

"For this event to have had such a big economic impact and have brought so many other people to Gateshead and the wider region is an added bonus and one that exceeded our expectations".

The results illustrate the national and regional exposure the Games provides for host cities and they can help promote a positive image for host regions with regard to their ability to stage a major sporting event and promotes the cities as positive places to visit.

As a result, 62.1 per cent of people surveyed said they would return to Newcastle, 62.5 per cent would re-visit Gateshead and 45.5 per cent would like to go back to Sunderland.

The 2010 Sainsbury's UK School Games were the penultimate edition of the competition with the final UK School Games taking place in Sheffield taking place later this year from September 1-4.

The event will then evolve into the School Games and the inaugural competition in 2012 is due to be held in the Olympic Park.

Despite widespread suggestions that the British Olympic Association (BOA) would run the new School Games, it was confirmed at the end of last year that the Youth Sport Trust will continue to be in charge of the competition which unlike its predecessor, will involve schools competing at local level before going through to national finals.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]