The University of Warwick is one of a number of local venues set to host athletes from 31 different countries at the International Children's Games this weekend.

Coventry last hosted the event in 2005 and it will see 73 different teams compete in events from Saturday, August 13 to August 15.

Roads in Coventry city centre will temporarily close this Friday (12 August) so a parade for the Olympic-style event can take place.

The procession for the private opening ceremony will kick-start the three days of competition which will see children aged between 12 and 15 years old battle to win medals for their city and take part in seven different sports.

Venues include The Alan Higgs Centre, Broadgate, University of Warwick and Coventry University – and anyone can turn up to watch without tickets.

For the event on Friday, Bayley Lane will shut from 6.45pm at the point where it crosses Earl Street and Cuckoo Lane.

STOP boards will be in place when the parade is ready to cross Earl Street.

Little Park Street is also set to close at 8pm at the junction with Salt Lane, with charging and parking bays suspended. This is so that coaches can be loaded safely.

All roads will re-open by 10pm, Coventry City Council said.

From left: Cllr Pervez Akhtar, Jessica Keynes from Tom White Waste, Cllr Mal Mutton and Cllr Abdul Salam Khan (Image by Coventry City Council)

The ceremony sponsored by Heart of England Community Foundation and Wesleyan Foundation will start at 7pm in Assembly Festival Gardens.

Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, deputy leader at CCC, said: "We are elated to be hosting this year's International Children's Games – especially so soon after a fantastic Commonwealth Games in the region.

"The young athletes taking part will hugely benefit from this. Not only the buzz in the air and the spotlight on sport, but the athletes are staying in the same accommodation as the Commonwealth Games athletes did and are even using some of the same kit.

"The basketball 3 x 3 equipment is what was used in the Commonwealth Games, and it's fantastic that our ICG athletes get to use this.

"As we come to the end of what has been a fantastic summer of sport, I encourage residents of Coventry to head to the ICG sports venues to support these young athletes."

More information on the games can be found here.