THE track is ready, the pitches are marked out, the tents are up and a whole 18 months of preparations are in place.

By tomorrow, more than 7,200 young people will have arrived in Southampton for the world's biggest youth sports event - the BAA Millennium Youth Games Grand Final.

Tonight a fleet of coaches carrying 51 regional teams from across Britain and Northern Ireland will be welcomed into the city, ready for the start of the final tomorrow at Southampton's Outdoor Sports Centre, and eight other sporting venues in the area.

Yesterday 104 children who will represent Southampton in the event were given the privilege of a sneak preview behind the scenes at the main games site in the Sports Centre.

The 11- to 15-year-olds, from schools across the city, received their passes and goodie-bags, walked around the site to find out where everything is, and were then let loose in the massive festival village marquee.

There they had the chance to try out the different activities set up to keep all the competitors occupied over the next three days - including indoor soccer, a rotating climbing wall, a flight simulator, basketball, and the Slazenger tennis factory.

James Eaton, 13, of Mountbatten School in Romsey, was impressed by the festival village.

The teenager, who will be competing in mixed doubles tennis for the Southampton team, said: "It's great - there's a lot of things to do. I've just done a running contest and a cycling contest.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend - I got to the final in the youth games so I'm pretty confident we're going to do well."

Becky Langham, 13, who is home-educated, was also really excited about the festival village.

She said: "It's excellent! I got the top speed for the girls on the cycling contest. I'm playing in the girls' tag rugby at the weekend - I'm really looking forward to it."

Drew Bridger, 13, of Greg School, was selected from 22 youngsters as one of Southampton's nine basketball players for the games.

He said: "It should be really good - it's not every day you get to compete in the Millennium Games."

The Southampton team's tour also served as a rehearsal for the arrival of the other 51 teams tonight, and the start of the games tomorrow.

Two thousand members of the public were also invited to see behind the scenes at the games, as access will be limited over the weekend.

Games spokesman Dom Garner said: "During the games people can come in at the main gate and go to the masterclass area but that's the only public access area. The festival zone, the team catering area and the team camp area are all pass-holders only."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.