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The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games are sure to grip the nation
and now Wigan Borough’s sporting fraternity have been given a glimpse of
how the Games can benefit people across the borough.
Wigan Borough Sports Council gathered at Robin Park Arena on Thursday
evening for a specially arranged meeting to hear Rob Young, North West
Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games, explain how the borough’s 306,000
residents can ‘be inspired’ by the Olympics.
Rob’s role is to spread the Olympic message across the North West and to
ensure that the lasting legacy has a positive impact on areas such as
Wigan and Leigh; not just the capital. The ‘Northwest Legacy Framework’,
presented by Rob at the meeting, outlines ways in which the region can
get involved in, and benefit from, the 2012 Olympics.
Rob highlighted his and the 2012 team’s vision that the Olympics will
inspire people of all ages and abilities to become more physically
active, more involved in volunteering and coaching and will also
increase business and tourism development opportunities in our region.
Rob explained, “We want the whole country to connect with 2012. My role
is to work with local authorities, sport enthusiasts and the voluntary
sector to help create greater awareness of the opportunities for people
living in the North West that will emerge in the run up to the Olympics.
We want the whole country to connect with 2012. One way in which people
may witness the Olympic spirit at first hand, and get involved with
elite athletes is through the team training camps, some of which could
be based in Wigan or Leigh.”
Wigan Borough is one of the first places on the regional map to benefit
from Rob’s insight as he tours the North West to spread the Olympics
‘message’. Trevor Barton, Chair of Wigan Borough Sports Council believes
the Olympics will inspire young local talent.
Trevor said, “We have a lot of great talent in this borough and we hope
the Olympics will energise more young people to take up sport and other
related activities – there are hundreds of ways to get involved. We want
people in the borough to use our fantastic sports facilities to achieve
their own dreams and become the stars of the future. That’s what we do.”
Rodney Hill, Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said,
“We are all gearing up 2012, so that we and the voluntary sector can
work together to create a legacy that children, young people and
families in the Wigan Borough will be inspired by. The Trust works hard
with the Borough Sports Council to create opportunities to get active
and get involved. With support from people like Rob and the regional
bodies we hope the Olympics can be a catalyst to achieve our goal to Get
Wigan Active.”
For more information about Wigan Borough Sports Council visit
www.wbsc.org.uk, or call Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports
Development Unit on 01942 404 982.
To learn more about the Northwest Legacy Framework for the 2012 Games,
or to obtain a copy of the framework visit
www.nwda.co.uk.
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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active . It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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Lizzie Hendley (Wigan Sports Development, part of WLCT),
Rob Young (2012 Olympics – North West Co-ordinator), Trevor Barton (WBSC
Chair) and Rodney Hill (WLCT Chief Executive) are on track for the 2012
Olympics
Rob presents the 2012 legacy framework to
Wigan Borough Sports Council |