Athletes showcase 2012 legacy to school pupils

British athletes Sharron Davies, Derek Redmond and Jade Johnson have helped to showcase the sporting legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by attending a unique event with over 1000 pupils from schools and colleges across the UK.

The 2012 Sporting Legacy event was hosted by broadcaster Garry Richardson and organised by school trips operator Adaptable Travel.

The day included presentations and activities at the Emirates Stadium and pupils were also given the chance of having a guided tour of the 2012 Olympic venues.

Swimmer Sharron Davies, MBE, who first swam for Britain at the age of 11, said:

“Introducing sport to children at a young age is crucial in creating future stars but this event was a lot more than that. It really investigated the values that make up an Olympic Champion and how those values can be transferred into all aspects of life.”

Athletes gave presentations about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and shared personal experiences with the pupils about their past. The 400m runner Derek Redmond gave a key insight into how he, along with Roger Black, John Regis and Kris Akabusi overcame the odds to win the 4x400m Men’s Relay Final in the 1991 Tokyo World Championships by beating the favourites, the team from USA, by four hundredths of a second.

Ian Webb, Managing Director at Adaptable Travel, said:

“Listening to all the athletes speak so passionately about their experiences was really inspiring. The motivational talks and presentations by some of Britain’s best athletes are a massive attraction to school pupils. The trip enables teachers to introduce the Olympics to their curriculum learning and makes the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games relevant to classrooms across the UK.”

The 2012 Sporting Legacy event will be returning in November 2011 and aims to be even bigger and better. For more information or to request a quote, visit www.adaptabletravel.co.uk.