I came from a small town in the Midlands and had a fantastic PE team, but not such a great facility. As a Young Ambassador I taught many sport classes…teaching 30 girls dance in a tiny room surrounded by sweaty teen boys playing basketball was never ideal!
For a long time the PE block had being bidding to get new facilities, and just in time for 2012 that dream came true.
Paul Manning – Olympic gold medallist in Beijing on the Cycling team – was once a pupil at my school and so was the guest of honour at the opening.
He absolutely inspired the kids to believe that you can be from a small town in tiny GB and win a gold medal. Now with the fantastic facilities open to them and their community they absolutely can achieve it.
Me with Paul and his medal!:
The kids' faces lit up when Paul pulled out his gold medal (as, I must admit, did mine). Some saw that their dream can start to become true as they finally have a great place to train. This new building is an asset to the town - just as I'm sure the new Olympic Park will become to London.
While I was there I also got to meet the new Young Ambassador for my school, who is very excited about her role and promises to keep the Olympic spirit alive there!
Projects in the school have already ready begun for 2012 and big plans for international school connections through sport are a big idea.
It still amazes me how people from so far out of London are embracing the Games and making sure they are very much involved!
I only wish I was had those facilities when I was at the school because who knows I could have being an athlete in 2012 instead of working behind the scenes!!
