22 May 2009

Jonathan Edwards launches Olympic Park tour competition for Northwest schools

A unique competition enabling schools across the Northwest to win a tour of the Olympic Park is set to be launched today (22nd May 2009) by former triple jump star and world record holder Jonathan Edwards.

A total of 5 schools – one from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside – will be chosen to take part in the once-in-a-lifetime experience and see for themselves the progress being made in preparing for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

To launch the competition, Jonathan will join headteachers from across Greater Manchester at Wright Robinson Specialist Sport College, Gorton, where he will take part in a workshop on ‘Get Set’, the London 2012 Education Programme. This works to inspire young people using the Olympic and Paralympic values, and has already seen around 350 schools in the Northwest register to become part of.

To be in with a chance of winning the unique prize, schools across the region are being invited to register at http://getset.london2012.com/en/join-us/register and explain what their school is doing to live the Olympic and Paralympic values of friendship, excellence, respect, courage, inspiration, determination and equality.

Jonathan Edwards, Board member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), commenting on his visit:

“Today’s visit to the Northwest encapsulates everything we went to Singapore to bid for. Young people across the region are learning and developing their skills through London 2012’s Get Set Education programme and through the Park tour competition we hope to boost awareness of the programme and give youngsters to witness the development first hand.” 

Andy Worthington, Chair of the Northwest Steering Group for the 2012 Games, said:

“We’re delighted to be hosting Jonathan’s visit today and to see the launch of this exciting competition. The Northwest is already being proactive in taking advantage of the many opportunities that London 2012 presents, and inspiring children and young people is an important part of this. Bringing The Games directly into Northwest schools will help to motivate our young people and capture their imagination to become a real part of the strong legacy we want to create here in the Northwest.”

As part of his visit, Jonathan will have an opportunity to attend some of the action at the Paralympic World Cup, which has been held in Manchester since 2005. As the largest international annual multi-sport competition in disability sport, the event is key for GB athletes in their preparation for London 2012 and has a record 21 Northwest athletes competing this year.

Jonathan will also get a chance to see first-hand some of the disability sports programmes being run in the Greater Manchester area, as well as taking part in ‘Champions Challenge’, a new programme being run by Greater Sport. As part of this, Jonathan will complete a cycling challenge and his result will allow children taking part to try and beat his time.

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Notes to editors

Photographs of Jonathan’s visit are also available on request.

Further details on how to enter the competition:

Schools in the Northwest are being asked to answer the following:

What is your school doing to live the Olympic and Paralympic values?

- Are you doing something special for National School Sport Week? (w/c 29th June)
- Tell us why the Olympic and Paralympic values are important to your school?
- How are the values being used as part of your curriculum?
- How are the values helping to inspire young people?
- What impact are the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games having on your school community and beyond?

Submitting entries:

- Please submit your entry via your blog on the Get Set website – this could be in the form of a written report, photographs of events that have taken place in your school, or even short films. Be creative in telling us what you have done.
- The deadline for entries is Friday 3rd July. Finalists will be invited to a presentation event w/c 13th July where the winners will be announced.

Competition terms and conditions:

- The competition is open only to schools in the Northwest.
- To enter your school needs to be registered on Get Set. If you are not yet registered you can register via - http://getset.london2012.com/en/join-us/register.
- You need to be aged 10-16.

Get Set – the London 2012 education programme

A range of free, flexible 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.

‘Get Set’ offers the opportunity to ‘Go Further’ and get involved in initiatives supported by London 2012 partners in eight key themes - internationalism; communication, collaboration and citizenship; practical learning; PE and sport; enterprise; sustainability and regeneration; culture and creativity, and healthy, active lifestyles.

School and colleges working with ‘Get Set’ now have the chance to apply to join the ‘Get Set network’ and receive the London 2012 education logo from September 2009 onwards in recognition of their learning through the London 2012 Games.

London 2012 is currently running a competition for budding designers aged 16 – 21 to create the infill for the London 2012 education logo.

For more information please go to www.london2012.com/getset or www.london2012.com/logocompetition

For further information please contact Rachel Ormandy, Senior Press Officer, on 01925 400237, 07810 528449 or rachel.ormandy@nwda.co.uk.

For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk/press

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:

• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life