Derbyshire young leader enjoys Beijing trip

10 September 2008

Derbyshire young leader Caelan Chambers, from Fairfield in Buxton, is currently enjoying the sporting trip of a lifetime after being selected to go to Beijing during the Paralympics as part of the British Council’s Young Advocate Programme.

The 18-year-old former Buxton Community School student was selected for the Programme after clocking up more than 250 voluntary hours through the Derbyshire Sports Leadership Academy.

Here he describes his trip so far.

Friday - I went into Beijing for most of the day. Saw Forbidden City and bought some student artwork.

Saturday - The official start of the forum. Guest speakers included Chris Waddle. Then of course we went to the Paralympics opening ceremony which was just AMAZING!

Sunday - We started our workshops. I have been placed in Sports Science, the idea being to work in a workshop that you have not experienced before. We are looking at how technology affects sport, and particularly, the paralympics. There is also focus on communication in the form of presentation and lingual divides.

Also on Sunday we had the Chinese themed party which was amazing.

Monday was workshops and the British Party in the evening, which was great! We had proper fish and chips. We did a 'Britain's got talent' thing. I did some silent acting in a 'Wenglish' version of Little Red Riding Hood. I was the Dad. Woo!

The Sports Science workshop is actually quite interesting.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was really good - The Great Wall was fantastic. We also saw a disabled performing arts group (woooow...). And we ended by going to the Athletics in the evening.

Today is last workshop day culminating in a showcase tomorrow. Tonight were going to Beijing to shop, but I think some of us will be testing the nightlife! Tomorrow we are action planning for the forum and everyone is showcasing what we have done in workshops.

Then in the evening Prince Edward and Lord Seb Coe at the British Embassy (suit and tie!), then I leave Midday Friday with a one night stopover at Amsterdam before Manchester.

I have had so little sleep - but so much fun!

Pictured above is Caelan (second from right) with fellow young advocates at the Paralympics opening ceremony.

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