Olympic superstar’s golden compliment

11:36am Wednesday 9th July 2008

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SCHOOL sport in Bromsgrove received a golden endorsement from double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

Dame Kelly, who won gold medals in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, visited South Bromsgrove High School last Wednesday as part of National School Sports Week.

A range of activities within the North Worcestershire School Sport Partnership took place throughout the week, led by school sport co-ordinators and supported by young leaders.

Inter-school competition was organised by partnership development manager Mandy Newbold, in conjunction with Vicci Webley, competition manager.

On Wednesday, around 540 students from schools around the partnership in the first ever North Worcestershire and Redditch Partnership Games.

Activities such as rowing, gymnastics, cycling, tag rugby and trampolining were on offer to students. The event also marked the first anniversary of the North Worcestershire and Redditch High School League structure, which has provided regular, weekly competition opportunities for pupils.

National School Sport Week, launched by Dame Kelly and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is a government initiative supported by Norwich Union.

Speaking to the Advertiser/Messenger, Dame Kelly revealed that Bromsgrove had been selected as one of the 13 places to receive a visit on her UK-wide tour, after the North Worcestershire School Sports Partnership submitted an impressive plan for the week-long event to the Youth Sport Trust.

She said: "I have to say here at Bromsgrove, the reason I am here is because they submitted a really great plan about what they would do throughout the week.

"That was submitted to the Youth Sport Trust. "There were hundreds of plans and I only picked 13 out from right across the country to come and see.

"Obviously they must have done a lot of work and made it worthwhile for me to come, so a big well done to Bromsgrove."

Looking ahead to the 2012 London Olympics, Dame Kelly said events like National School Sports Week could provide a platform for the games and future competitions.

Also high on her agenda, was the importance of youngsters having the opportunity to embrace less mainstream sports.

She added: "It is about engagement, giving everyone an opportunity so you have to have a variety of activities. There will be something for everybody along the way and I think that is important.

"I think the 2012 games coming to Great Britain is really the heart of sport in this country and certainly schools participation.

"We are trying to get in 2010 and 2011, five hours of PE and school sport a week for every young person. It is important that we engage youngsters at a very early age. The more you get involved in sport, the more likely you will have someone break through later on in life."

The NSSW action kicked off on Monday with the TOP SportSability Festival, where junior sports leaders from Chadsgrove School and Specialist College introduced first school pupils to activities which can be played by both disabled and non-disabled young people, such as Boccia and Sitting Volleyball.

On Tuesday, the First Steps Gymnastics Festival for pupils aged six and seven years old took place at South Bromsgrove High School.

The inaugural North Worcestershire Middle School Twenty20 Competition took place at Bromsgrove Cricket Club on Thursday, in conjuction with Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

The week was rounded off at Bromsgrove Tennis Club on Friday with the year five and six Mini-Tennis Final.

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