StreetGames Legacy Leaders is the very first London 2012 Inspire project to sign up to plan a London 2012 Local Leader celebration this Summer in Birmingham.
The ‘Local Leaders’ programme, the first initiative of its time run by an organising committee, invites people across the UK to create their own Games celebrations. The programme is open from now through the Olympic Torch Relay and other key moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
StreetGames project FITCAP is hosting a holiday sports scheme in the summer of 2012 to celebrate Britain hosting the Games. For two weeks in August around 100 youngsters will be invited to try Olympic sports such as basketball, volleyball and football as well as kick-boxing and dodgeball.
Sessions will be held at Glebe Farm, Shard End in the east of Birmingham and youngsters from other organisations will be invited to attend. To complement the daily schedule, FITCAP also plan to host a community day on Super Saturdays at an open park in the city, inviting parents along as well.
FITCAP has only run football sessions in the past but this year is offering futsal, StreetDance and kick-boxing as part of its 13 sessions each week which attract 400 young people.
Alison O’Connell, project manager of FITCAP, said: ‘The whole country is excited about the Olympic and Paralympic Games being here and Birmingham is no different. That is why we have changed our whole focus and broadened our approach this year to bring other sports into what we offer our young people.’
Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “The Local Leaders programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like Street Games are enabling people across the United Kingdom to come together and celebrate the London 2012 Games.”
Jane Ashworth, CEO of StreetGames said: “This is a fabulous opportunity for ordinary people to join in the celebration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. StreetGames will be encouraging the people involved in our many, many projects and programmes to emulate the athletes competing at the 2012 Games. Traditionally, young people have watched their heroes and then tried to copy them. StreetGames wants to give every young person the means to carry on that tradition.”
StreetGames is an award-winning charity which takes sport straight to the doorstep of young people living in disadvantaged communities across the UK.
StreetGames - Legacy Leaders is StreetGames' commitment to helping more young people play and enjoy sport by 2012 and beyond. This Inspire project has been running for over four years and is all about the people and projects on the ground. Through its work StreetGames has helped 170,000 young people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to access sport.
London 2012 organisers are encouraging anyone who is looking to celebrate the London 2012 Games to sign up to be a Local Leader.
Whether they invite three friends or their whole community, London 2012 will provide them with the tools to make their celebration one to remember.
For people who want to be involved they just need to pick an occasion and get planning. The Local Leaders website, www.london2012.com/localleaders, has ideas, tools and tips to get people started planning an event.
Ideas put forward from communities across the UK include Garden for the Games, Line the Streets for the Olympic Torch Relay, hosting a sports quiz, party at home by throwing an Opening Night In and Super Saturday, the big medal-winning weekend during the Games.
People will be able to find Local Leader celebration events on the London 2012 database, www.london2012.com/join-in.
The Inspire programme has being running for over three years and through the programme more that 2,000 projects have been awarded the coveted Inspire mark for their work in one of six areas: sustainability, education, volunteering, business, sport or culture.