Press Release: Coventry and Warwickshire bouncing with enthusiasm for 2012

The 2012 ball is rolling in Coventry after more than 1,000 schoolchildren took part in a London 2012-inspired sports day at a leisure centre in the city.The Alan Higgs centre, in Allard Way, provided the venue for children from nine secondary schools from the Coventry East School Sports Partnership to experience a range of ball sports and receive coaching tips during the city’s latest Festival of Sport.Children took part in wheelchair basketball, basketball, volleyball and handball before some pupils honed their dance moves and took part in a closing ceremony for the festival. The five-day event was the latest instalment of the region’s Festival of Sport project and was organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games, delivered by the Coventry East School Sports Partnerships, funded by NHS Coventry and supported by Coventry Sports Foundation.Festival of Sport project aims to give children from schools across Coventry an opportunity to experience a variety of Olympic and Paralympic sports in the lead up to London 2012 while learning practically about the values associated with the Games.The project has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark, which is an accreditation that recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.Will Bastin, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership assistant for the 2012 Games, said: “With just over five school terms until the London 2012 Games, it is important that there are projects like this embedded now as part of schools education programmes that teach both sport and education as one. “By exposing children to sports that they are unlikely to have tried before, we aim to encourage children to see their participation in sport as a fun and friendly activity that is part of wider healthy lifestyle.”Youngsters also received special brochures including facts, information and details about London 2012 and the sports that will be played, as well as contact details for local sports clubs in an aim to encourage future participation.The brochures included quiz questions throughout which enabled pupils to reflect on what they had learnt.Neil Parker, partnership development manager for the Coventry East School Sports Partnership, said: “Events like this are perfect for engaging as many children from across our partnership as possible with sport while allowing them to experience new activities they will see at the Olympic Games.“This latest Festival of Sport was another example of local schools and the 2012 partnership working closely together in an attempt to improve sports participation in the area and hopefully increase the chances of creating a successful sporting legacy for the future.”Full list of schools participating:Whitley Abbey, Lyng Hall Sports College, Ernesford Grange, Caludon Castle, Foxford, Grace Academy, Stoke Park, Cardinal Wiseman and Blue Coat.ENDSPicture captions: Children participating in the latest Festival of Sport.

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