London 2012 Inspiration Hits Ysgol Bryn Hyfryd

Schoolchildren from Ruthin have this week marked Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week - 27 June to 1 July -  by setting their own Personal Bests in an Olympic or Paralympic sport.

Pupils at Ysgol Bryn Hyfryd have joined nearly five million young people in taking part in Britain's biggest ever school sport event. 

Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week uses the excitement of the London 2012 Games to inspire young people to do more sport. The initiative, run in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, is part of the London 2012 Get Set+ education programme.  Today's event saw pupils achieve Personal Bests in a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports, including gymnastics and handball. 

More than 150 Year Six pupils from local feeder primary schools took part in London 2012-themed activities as part of a transition day to acclimatise to life at secondary school. The day itself was overseen by 24 six form students, striving for their own personal best, as part of their final assessment to become Sports Leaders. Throughout the week, Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils have also been setting personal bests in a range of running, jumping and throwing athletics events.    

"The staging of the Olympic and Paralympic games on home soil provides us with the perfect opportunity to get young people across Britain excited about sport," said Robin Nash, PE Teacher at Ysgol Bryn Hyfryd.
"The idea of setting and achieving Personal Bests is one which challenges them to reach and surpass goals, both as individuals, and as part of a team.  We are hoping that this will motivate them to raise the bar even higher and inspire them to achieve new sporting and academic goals whilst they are still at school."

With London 2012 fast approaching, research carried out by Lloyds TSB* reveals that one in four (25%) British parents are worried that their children aren't active enough.  The same survey also found at 81% of parents think that sport can play an active role in their child's development, so parents are being encouraged to get behind National School Sport Week and pledge their support for their child taking part in the week. 

Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: "Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week gets bigger every year, with more young people being encouraged, inspired and motivated to take up sport and be the best they can be. This is what our London 2012 legacy vision is all about."

Parents of school pupils taking part in National School Sport Week can pledge their support to their child's school at www.lloydstsb.com/nationalschoolsportweek.

Schools that reach the minimum level of support will be in with a chance of winning tickets to London 2012 or the chance to carry the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.