SOUTHAMPTON'S successful bid to host one of the world's biggest ever youth sports events will cost council tax-payers almost £400,000.

But civic chiefs claim the figure is excellent value as it will unlock millions of pounds' worth of investment in the city and leave a lasting legacy of top-quality facilities.

The Olympic-style finals of the BAA Millennium Youth Games, to be held in August 2000, will attract around 7,000 competitors from across Britain.

National Lottery funds of £1 million have been earmarked to revamp the city's outdoor sports centre in Bassett, with a further £900,000 offered towards the costs of staging the four-day gathering.

The council's cash contribution will involve £230,000 going into facilities investment at the sports centre and £160,000 in revenue funding.

Leisure supremo Paul Mawson said: "This is unbelievable value for money for the people of Southampton. This is a chance to establish a continuing legacy of sports improvements." Sport England - formerly the Sports Council - formally announced on Saturday that Southampton would host the games.

Civic leaders will now begin detailed discussions over the upgrading of the sports centre, recently criticised for its lack of training facilities by athletics star Iwan Thomas.

They have pledged to consult cyclists who fear the revamp could take place at the expense of the city's only cycle track, which surrounds the existing six-lane athletics track.

The games will see competitions in swimming, tennis, hockey, netball, athletics, football, basketball and girls' rugby.

Football hero Trevor Brooking, chairman of Sport England, said: "Because of the competitors' age level, there will be many families here, generating a great atmosphere. There will be a lot of excitement and the games will leave facilities that Southampton can capitalise on for years to come."

Councillor June Bridle, recently elected council leader, urged residents to get behind the games and extend a warm welcome to the competitors, aged 11 to 15, most of whom will stay in university residences.

She said: "The chance to stage something like this is absolutely fantastic, but we must make sure we can address these youngsters' needs when they are here."

Councillor Julian Price, who chairs the leisure services committee, hoped the games would appeal to residents, and he pledged to minimise disruption.

"We want to make sure that the people of the city feel this will be an event they can come along to. This is a major achievement for Southampton as host city."

Formal permission to stage the games is expected to be granted at a city council meeting later this month.

See Daily Echo Sports for a rundown on last week's Hampshire Youth Games

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