Derbyshire Sport website search

Enter keyword - eg. athletics

Derbyshire school leads region's Paralympic handover celebrations

16 September 2008

More than 80 pupils at the school in Bolsover took part in boccia, tri-golf, track and field and tag rugby sessions and, as the East Midlands flagship event, the school was also presented with a limited edition Paralympic flag from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

The event coincided with the presentation of the Paralympic Flag to London, and after watching the event on television pupils at Stubbin Wood were presented with medals by Paralympic swimming medallist Martin Mansell.

Also attending the Derbyshire event was Peter Richardson, Chair of the Derbyshire Management Group for the 2012 Games; Tracy Croft, East Midlands Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games, and Erin Munns from LOCOG.

Peter Richardson, Chair of the Derbyshire Management Group for the 2012 Games, said: “We must do all we can in Derbyshire to reap the maximum benefit for future generations from London 2012. The Paralympians are role models for all of us and we can be justifiably proud of everything they have achieved.”

Diane Sheppard, Assistant Headteacher at Stubbin Wood School, said: “Sport is very important at the school here, and all the children take part in some way. We have a wide range of sports taking place in school, and we also do an awful lot in the community, going out to places such as Lea Green, Kissingate Leisure Centre and Carsington Water.”

In the East Midlands, 238 schools and colleges officially registered to be part of the Paralympic Handover with many more also taking part in activities, and an estimated 5,000 schools and colleges have taken part across the UK.

Tracy Croft, East Midlands Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games, based at East Midlands Development Agency (emda) said: “I am delighted that so many schools across the region joined in with the celebrations. A key aim for us in the East Midlands is to create a worthwhile and lasting legacy from the Games for our children and young people. Partners from sport and education are already working together with emda to make that aspiration a reality.”

Inspired by the amazing performances by ParalympicsGB in Beijing, schools and colleges were supported in celebrating Paralympic Handover by a set of online resources including films, posters and factsheets launched in by LOCOG in June.

The celebrations gave children and young people their first taste of the creativity and inspiration that will be found throughout the London 2012 domestic education programme called ‘Get Set’ which launched on September 18. A new interactive ‘Get Set’ website can be found at www.london2012.com/getset (opens in a new window).

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “Our vision is to inspire children and young people through the London 2012 Games. Our athletes at the 2008 Paralympic Games and Olympic Games have certainly done this.

“The Paralympic and Olympic Values lie at the heart of our handover celebrations and are an integral part of our work with young people through schools and colleges. By motivating young people in the East Midlands and capturing their imagination we can help them to fulfill their potential, and create a legacy that will continue long after the London 2012 Games have ended.”

Pictured above are Stubbin Wood School pupils with Peter Richardson, Tracy Croft, Martin Mansell and Bolsover District Council Councillor Ken Walker.

* A number of Derbyshire athletes competed at the Paralympics in Beijing. Cyclist Anthony Kappes won two gold medals, in the Men's 1km Time Trial (B&VI) and the Men's Sprint (B&VI 1-3).

Jon Hall won a bronze medal as part of Great Britain’s wheelchair basketball team, which beat the United States 85 – 77 in their final match.

Swimmer David Ellis swam in the heats of the Men's 100m Butterfly (S13), Men's 100m Breaststroke (SB13), Men's 50m Freestyle (S13), Men's 100m Backstroke (S13), Men's 200m Individual Medley (SM13) and Men's 100m Freestyle (S13). He qualified for the final of the Men's 200m IM (SM13) and Men's 100m Breaststroke, finishing sixth and seventh respectively.

Footballer Leon Taylor was part of the seven-a-side Great Britain squad which finished seventh in the tournament, having defeated China 10-2 in their final match.

Meanwhile wheelchair tennis player Alex Jewitt played in both the men’s singles and men’s doubles, losing both his first-round matches.