First stop was a question and answer session from the West Midlands Youth Parliament. They were well informed and wanted to know about issues as diverse as fair trade, environmental sustainability, the Opening Ceremony and funding available to budding Chris Hoys and Victoria Pendletons living in rural Staffordshire. It was reassuring to see such a high level of engagement on national issues but also how it related to the local area too.
It was also good preparation for LOCOG’s appearance in front of the parliamentary select committee and if some of the young people continue along the political path then some of those MPs may have to watch out for their seat.
Then it was on to the new GMAC centre in Perry Barr. Built on a site I used to train on back in the 1980s, I got to see children being introduced to judo and gymnastics. As I said to the local media, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are clearly having an inspirational effect out in the regions just as much as London and after seeing how some of those kids handled their first use of the equipment who knows? We might even have had a new Louis Smith in our midst! 
Certainly we have some talented fighters. I met local boxers Antonio Counihan and Danny Lawler who are representing England against Germany on 19 December in Birmingham. As a keen boxing fan I wish them both the best and it would be great to see them wearing the Team GB vests in four summers' time. 
Finally we visited Coventry where I officially opened the new Xcel Centre and met my old friend and fellow athlete, David Moorcroft, who has done so much to open sport up to people in the region. Providing a space for able bodied and disabled local people, Xcel has some amazing facilities like a swimming pool with a floor that can be raised to make it fully accessible.
The region certainly has pedigree in this area. The night before our visit, Ellie Simmonds won the BBC Midlands Sports Personality of the Year award. I’d met Ellie back in 2006 on a similar nations and regions programme visit to the area before she headed to the World Swimming Championships in Durban, South Africa. Today, two Paralympic gold medals later she is an inspiration to all and a great example how talent and dedication can combine to deliver success.
They are qualities that I saw throughout my visit to Birmingham and Coventry and it would be great if in 2012 people I met today get the chance to compete in London’s Olympic Park and maybe even step onto podium.
