OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST GERAINT THOMAS INSPIRES WALES’ YOUNG STARS

Young people come together to work with Olympic and Paralympic athletes for the Youth Sport Trust Young Ambassadorprogramme presented by adidas 

Welsh cycling ace and Olympic champion, Geraint Thomas, will be make a show stopping appearance in Cardiff, along with the Olympic Torch, to open Wales' second Young Ambassador Conference at the Swalec Stadium, Glamorgan Cricket Club on Friday 4^th November 2011.

Over seventy 14-19 year olds from across the country will be at the event after being selected by their schools and Local Authorities to become Young Ambassadors, tasked with using London 2012 to inspire other young people in their schools and communities to get hooked on sport for life.

The day will be led by a team of Olympic and Paralympic Athlete mentors, including Olympic weightlifter, Michaela Breeze, Great Britain's women's field hockey forward, Alex Danson and Paralympic silver medalist, Clare Strange, as well as a number of experienced Young Ambassadors. The mentors will share their own experiences of what it's like to be part of an Olympic and Paralympic Games and encourage the Ambassadors to think about how they can make London 2012 relevant to their own communities. A number of experienced Ambassadors will also discuss their important role and the ways in which they have made an impact in their schools and communities over the last 12 months.

The group of young stars have been acknowledged for the prestigious roles by their schools and Local Authorities, having shown exceptional commitment and ability as young leaders or volunteers, to become Young Ambassadors, an initiative presented by adidas, delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and supported in Wales by Sport Wales. Central to their mission will be spreading the Olympic and Paralympic values of respect, friendship, personal excellence, courage, determination, inspiration and equality and showing how people can adopt them into their lives.

The aim of the conference is to inspire and motivate the Young Ambassadors through London 2012 and the Olympic and Paralympic values, so that they can then go back to their schools and inspire and motivate other young people. 

With a gold medal under his belt and training well underway for next year's 2012 Games, Geraint is no stranger to commitment, perseverance and team work. He will open the conference by sharing his experiences of what it takes to be an elite athlete and being involved in an Olympic Games, the importance of role models and the impact of inspiring others.

Geraint said: "I'm privileged to be involved with the Young Ambassador programme. Competing at an Olympic Games is the ultimate achievement and the best feeling to know you have trained hard, pushed yourself and your boundaries, and have come out fighting in winning form. It's an incredible experience and has definitely changed me as a person. I'm really looking forward to meeting the Young Ambassadors at their Conference in Cardiff and hope that through hearing about my experiences they will come away energised and motivated to help get their friends participating in sport right across Wales."

Alison Oliver, Director of Sport at the Youth Sport Trust, which is responsible for delivering the programme said: "Our Young Ambassadors programme demonstrates the influence that young people can have as role models with their peers and those younger than themselves. Since the initiative launched in 2006, thousands of young people have been recognised by their schools for their ability and exceptional commitment as young leaders or volunteers. With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games drawing closer, these conferences play a crucial role in encouraging Young Ambassadors to harness their passion for sport and use their energy to make London 2012 relevant to other young people within their own schools and local communities".

Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister said:

"We are in a very exciting and unique time. As we build up to London 2012, sport in this country will receive more profile and publicity than ever. We've also got the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 so the coverage doesn't stop after next year.

"As Young Ambassadors, these young people have the opportunity to promote, develop and sell the benefits of sport in their school and community and have been picked out as having the potential to make a positive difference.

"Sport has a big role to play in Wales and we need young people to help take us to the next level to help us achieve our ambitions of getting every child hooked on sport for life and creating a nation of champions."