SPORTY youngsters from Prince Henry's High School, in Evesham, got the chance to rub shoulders with Olympian legends at a special gathering at Birmingham's Villa Park.
The school was one of more than 65 specially selected champion schools to be invited as part of the Get Set for Community Action national training day.
The UK-wide programme aims to help thousands of 14-19 year olds to strengthen relationships between young people and their communities.
As well as being offered support and ideas to play a community project using the Olympic and Paralympic Games values as their inspiration, the pupils were also joined in Birmingham by four-time Olympian and former sprinter Christian Malcolm and London 2012 para-rowing champion David Smith who offered their own expert advice.
Seb Speciale-Lees, 17, was one of a handful of Prince Henry’s High School pupils in attendance and, after meeting Malcolm and Smith, he is now bursting with ideas for his local community.
“I learned a lot of new skills I didn’t have before and talked to people I wouldn’t usually talk to for ideas on what I can do in my school to bring my community together,” said the Year 12 pupil.
“We’ve got a date, on March 9. We’re doing a lot of sports and festivals.We’re going to have a lot of different sections. There will be people who aren’t usually physically active who will see how much fun it is to get involved with sport.”
With less than ten months to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, pupils will be able to help build pride and excitement in the lead-up to next summer.
And while Malcolm will not be competing in Brazil having retired from athletics in 2014, the Welshman had relished reliving his Olympic memories by supporting the new programme.
“The Get Set for Community Action initiative is very good at trying to engage the wider community and builds upon the legacy of 2012,” he said.
“I have been impressed with how enthusiastic they have all been at the session and they have been coming up with some great ideas.”
Get Set for Community Action is a new UK-wide programme for young people and their communities created by the British Olympic Foundation and British Paralympic Association and made possible thanks to the Big Lottery Fund. To find out more visit: www.getsetaction.org.uk
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