The North East took centre stage as 600 Newcastle school children joined Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms at Heaton Manor School for day two of Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week.
The second day of Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week
28 Jun 2011
Former badminton star Gail Emms joined the London 2012 Olympic mascot Wenlock to take part in a day designed to encourage pupils to try and achieve a personal best in an Olympic or Paralympic sport.
A prototype of the recently launched Olympic Torch also arrived at The Heaton Manor school as the Newcastle youngsters were given an exclusive look at what will be a key part of next year’s Games. After trying her hand at events ranging from rowing to long jump, Gail Emms was quick to label the day a resounding success.
Gail Emms said, “It was great to try out all the different sports but also to see the Olympic Torch.” Her thoughts were echoed by Heaton Manor Head of PE Chris Mason, who said: “Having the Olympic Torch stop by was a real treat and you could see from the excitement on the young people’s faces that they are starting to really understand the importance of hosting the Games.”
The Heaton Manor School which is a member of the Get Set network, is hosting just one of a host of events taking place this week which will see four million young people across Britain involved in Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week – Britain’s biggest school sport event.
Elsewhere, double Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning swimmer Caitlin McClatchey was the star attraction as 100 youngsters from Leicester descended on Crown Hills Community College, also a member of the Get Set network. Joining McClatchey as part of a star-studded cast was BMX trick artist Keelan Phillips and up-and-coming cyclist Lucy Garner, who is also part of the Lloyds TSB Local Hero scheme. Partnership Development Manager Dan Hewins, who helped organised the day, was delighted with how it went.
There was a heavyweight showing in King’s Lynn as former Prizefighter champion Sam Sexton visited King Edward VII School as students made pledges about achieving ‘personal bests’ during Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week. Sam Sexton said, “I never had the chance to do what these kids are doing this week and I think it is great.”
Meanwhile today in Telford, more than 160 children from ten different schools joined in the fun and games as they came together for a series of events that tested their agility, balance and co-ordination. They took part in the Telford & Wrekin Youth Games with running, jumping and throwing featuring heavily. Not to be upstaged, Bristol also got in on the act as over 250 schoolchildren took part in a Festival of Sport at Bristol University’s Coombe Dingle Sports Complex. They were joined by Athens 2004 Olympian, Matt Elias, as the children staged an Olympic-style opening ceremony, before attempting to achieve their personal best in a range of different Olympic and Paralympic sports – including athletics, cycling and judo.
Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week uses the power of London 2012 to inspire children to try Olympic and Paralympic sports. Your local school could carry the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay or win tickets to London 2012.
Schools and colleges that are participating in Lloyds National School Sport Week are encouraged to submit an application to join the Get Set network.
