London 2012 inspiration hits Ysgol Glan Y Mor

Pupils in Carmarthenshire preparing for secondary school have marked this year's National School Sport Week by aiming for their own personal best with an Olympic hopeful. ( WATCH A FILM CLIP)

As part of Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week (27 June - 1 July), more than 100 primary school pupils made a step in the transition to Ysgol Glan-Y-Mor by taking part in a sporting day based on the Olympics and Paralympics.

They joined nearly five million young people in taking part in Britain's biggest ever school sport event. 

And a special sporting guest - Great Britain swimming star Jazz Carlin - popped in to take a look at the sports and inspire the youngsters to achieve at sport and in school.

Picture: Giving archery a try with Jazz Carlin is Ellie Hopkins, aged 11 from Pwll.

Jazz, who will be part of the GB squad heading to Shanghai for the World Championships in July, took part in a question and answer session and gave the pupils a look at her Commonwealth Games medals.

She said:

"I've got lots of good memories of sport at school and coming here today reminds me of some of the great experiences. It just used to be fun with my friends.

"I liked netball alot and rounders when I was younger. If I wasn't a swimmer I think I'd be a runner.

"Sport is important, having friends around you, keeping healthy and enjoyment is something I would certainly agree with."

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.  In Wales it is promoted by Sport Wales.

 

The event at Glan-Y-Mor was a chance for the primary school pupils to familiarise themselves with their new school surroundings, and new friends, before September.

They got the chance to try London 2012 sports such as hockey, table tennis, badminton, basketball, archery, cycling and mountain biking.

The day itself was overseen by the school's PE staff and 5x60 officer with help of local clubs and coaches. Young leaders from Glan-Y-Mor were also on hand to help out.

All the schools wrote an Olympic oath and made a torch to be carried 2012 metres in a relay.

"The day was all about the transition from primary to secondary and we wanted to get the Olympic and Paralympic spirit and messages across - such as friendship, courage and inspiration," said Phil Davidson, Head of PE at Ysgol Glan-Y-Mor.

"We thought that we could use sport as a way to make the pupils more comfortable with the change to secondary education.

"We put sports in place that perhaps they wouldn't have done in school yet, including archery, basketball and badminton.

"The health benefits make sport an obvious choice for a transition event but we know sport is a perfect way to promote equality and friendship as well.

"Participation and enjoyment of sport is important to us at Glan-Y-Mor along with excellence, with several of our pupils representing Wales in football and rugby."

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.