Sports stars share Olympic spirit with Northern Ireland youth

Olympians are joining young people from across Northern Ireland at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre to celebrate the inaugural conference of the Young Ambassador programme.

This initiative aims to use the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire more young people to take part in sport. Forty 14–19 year-olds from 20 schools across Northern Ireland have been nominated to be Northern Ireland’s first Young Ambassadors and work as role models in their schools and communities.

Olympians Miriam Batten [rowing], Michelle Robinson [athletics], and Johnny Davis [fencing] are among the sportspeople who will work with the Young Ambassadors today to help prepare them for their role.

The Young Ambassador initiative is managed by the Youth Sport Trust. The scheme is a key part of the Physical Education and sport strand of Get Set – the London 2012 education programme. Since its launch in the summer of 2006, more than 2,500 Young Ambassadors across England, Scotland and Wales have been helping to increase sports participation and promote healthy lifestyles among their peers.

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) is providing funding for the Youth Sport Trust to deliver the Young Ambassador programme in Northern Ireland. Sports Minister Nelson McCausland, commented on the importance of the programme. He said: “Young people are at the heart of our plans in Northern Ireland to deliver a legacy from the 2012 Games. The inaugural conference is the start of a journey for the Young Ambassadors in Northern Ireland to join with their peers, throughout the UK, in using the power of the Games to inspire other young people.”

Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “Central to the Youth Sport Trust Young Ambassador programme is that young people are using the power of sport and London 2012 to drive opportunity, engagement and change for other children – it’s a programme for young people, delivered by young people.”

By the time the 2012 Games have begun, more than 10,000 Young Ambassadors across the UK will have been active in their schools and communities, organising sports festivals, leading school assemblies, coaching, inspiring and setting an example to others.

Olympic silver medallist Miriam Batten said: “Growing up, I was inspired by lots of different people and these Young Ambassadors have the perfect opportunity to become positive role models for their peers.”

British rower and double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell recorded a special video message to be screened at today’s conference. He said: “Come 2012, thousands of youngsters will have played a crucial role in taking the Games out into their communities by living the Olympic and Paralympic values and encouraging their peers to live healthier and more sustainable lifestyles. I’m proud to support it.”

Notes to editors:

1. In England, the Young Ambassador programme is managed by the Youth Sport Trust on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Children, School and Families (DCSF).
2. In Northern Ireland, the Young Ambassador programme is supported by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and managed by the Youth Sport Trust.
3. The Youth Sport Trust is a registered charity focused on improving the quality of PE and school sport. Its aim is to encourage children of all ages and abilities to do more sport and help offer them the chance to take part in five hours of PE and sport each week, both in and out of school time, by 2012.
4. For more information on the Young Ambassador programme and the work of the Youth Sport Trust, visit Youth Sport Trust website
5. The Young Ambassador programme is a key part of the PE and sport strand of the official London 2012 education programme, ‘Get Set’. ‘Get Set’ is a range of free, flexible online resources with the Olympic values (excellence, friendship and respect) and Paralympic values (courage, determination, inspiration and equality) at their heart. Resources available on the site are for 3–19-year-olds and include inspirational films, interactive games, fact sheets, news articles and more, along with an Educators section for practitioners and senior management. Schools and colleges working with ‘Get Set’ also have the chance to apply to join the ‘Get Set network’ and receive the London 2012 education logo in recognition of their learning. For more information, visit http://www.london2012.com/getset
6. The Young Ambassador initiative is part of the London 2012 Inspire programme. The Inspire programme is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and there are Programmers based in most nations and regions of the UK. It is a broad participation programme spanning sport participation, culture, education, sustainability, volunteering, and business opportunities and skills. New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in. For more information please go to http://www.london2012.com/beinspired or contact the Inspire Programmer for Northern Ireland, Julie Jamison
7. Miriam Batten is a 45-year-old British rower. She achieved gold at the 1998 World Rowing Championships and competed in the Olympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2000. At the 2000 Olympic Games she competed in the quadruple sculls with her sister and two other women, winning a silver medal and making history as this was Great Britain’s first ever women’s Olympic rowing medal.
8. Michelle Robinson is a 38-year-old British triple jumper who broke numerous British records, competed in three World Championship Finals and European Finals, narrowly missed out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1998, and competed in the 1996 Olympic Games. Michelle was the first woman in the Commonwealth to jump over 14 metres. She retired from athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, after nearly 15 years at the top.
9. Johnny Davis is a 49-year-old fencer from Northern Ireland. He competed in the Olympic Games in 1988 and 1992 (he was the top British fencer at the ’88 Games and in the top 20 fencers in the world at the ’92 Games) and has one silver and two bronze Commonwealth medals. He has now retired from competitive fencing and recently established the Elks Fencing School at the University of Ulster. He was also team manager for the Northern Ireland World Fencing Championships held the University of Ulster in 2009.
10. Media enquiries to Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office on 028 9051 5046 or email DCAL Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.