FORMER Great Britain hockey international Callum Giles will be encouraging more Southampton children to take up sport as part of a two-week sports festival.

Callum will officially open the new sports hall at Bitterne Park School tomorrow as the secondary hosts an orienteering festival.

During the next two weeks schools from across Southampton will be taking part in various sporting tournaments organised by the Southampton School Sport Partnership.

By 2010 it is hoped that every child in the city will compete in at least two hours of sport a week.

The partnership's assistant development manger, Julia Tucker-Blackford, said: "The aim is to increase the percentage of schoolchildren in England who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high-quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum."

The partnership also wants to promote young people's health, safety and well-being.

Sports on offer to children during the festival fortnight include tag rugby, football, gymnastics, basketball and orienteering.

On Monday five schools descended on St Anne's Catholic School and St George Catholic School to take part in a basketball festival.