Students meet Olympic hero
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Young people from 13 countries got the chance to meet UK Olympic gold medal-winner Denise Lewis in Cardiff last week.
The 48 students attended the 2009 UK School Games under the International Inspiration initiative. Managed by the Youth Sport Trust, the UK School Games is a multi-sport event for elite young athletes of school age and includes opening and closing ceremonies and an athletes’ village to replicate the environment of a major sporting event. This year’s event featured 1,600 athletes competing across ten sports.
The British Council – alongside UK Sport, UNICEF and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) – is one of the lead agencies delivering International Inspiration, with the programme forming an important strand of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy to engage and inspire youth through sport.
One of the participants from Azerbaijan said: ‘The Games have been so much more than I ever expected. I can't believe we got to meet Denise Lewis. She was very inspiring. I'll never forget it.’
Prior to attending the Games, all of the International Inspiration participants had received youth sport leadership training under the programme, helping them to develop a range of skills including organisation, communication and leadership skills.
Volunteering at the Games offered a fantastic opportunity for the young leaders to build upon these skills whilst at the same time allowing them to participate in a high-profile sporting event in the UK. Attending the Games was also an opportunity for the young leaders to share experiences with their peers around the world. One of the Zambian young leaders said: ‘I realise that we come from many backgrounds or countries but we live in the same world and share the same dream and that is inspiring others to choose sport.’
Denise Lewis commented: ‘I am delighted we are able to offer these Young Leaders the opportunity to volunteer at the UK School Games. Integral to International Inspiration is the engagement of young people in developing countries through PE and sport.’
For more information visit http://www.britishcouncil.org/sport-international-inspiration-home.htm
