More than 1,000 of the county's most gifted athletes were given their starting orders by Olympic gold medalist Jason Gardener yesterday.
The 4x100 metre relay champion from the 2004 Olympic Games was opening the Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games Championships.
Gardener spoke to children from all over Leicestershire and Rutland, who had assembled at Leicester Grammar School, in Great Glen.
The event saw competitors from Rutland to Charnwood chase glory in 13 sports and 22 competitions.
They combined in what was the biggest schools sport event the county has ever seen.
Everyone involved, including disabled athletes, had qualified from Level Two area finals, to participate in the Level Three County Final Championships.
The event, organised by Geoff Maltby, the sports development manager at Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport, is one of several taking place all over the country.
It is part of a Government initiative to leave a meaningful sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
School games ambassadors Lucy Garner (World junior road race cycling champion) and Josie Inverdale (Leicester Ladies and GB U-21 hockey player) were also there to lend support.
A delighted Maltby said the event had gone "fantastically well", despite the odd rain shower.
"We opened with a superb opening ceremony in front of 1,000 people and then Jason Gardener spoke to everyone," he said.
"This has been six months of planning in the making and has taken a huge about of work from all of the schools and support staff involved.
"This is a new concept but we have funding for two more years and, hopefully, those who have enjoyed this event and who qualify for next year's, will be keen to come back.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for some of these people at county level to prove that they are the best of the best in their sport.
"Everyone attending today has battled to get here after doing well in their local area competitions. Now they are here, of course, they want to win.
"But there are a number of values that have also been on show and that we were keen to promote such as team work, respect and fair play. That has been evident in every sport.
"It has been a logistical nightmare putting the event on with people from nearly 100 schools involved.
"We have been reliant on parents and teachers to get everyone here on time at 8.30am with many having to drive from the other side of the county."
As well as those actually taking part in the various events, which included the likes of gymnastics, swimming, netball, hockey, tennis, football and volleyball, there was a huge support staff in place which included more than 80 Young Leaders, who also supported the championships through various roles.
The Young Leaders from local schools assisted the other 150 volunteers and support staff on the day.
Courtesy of Leicester Mercury