Olympic Join in Local Sports events held in borough (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Olympic Join in Local Sports events held in borough
12:00pm Friday 17th August 2012 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter
Overton youngsters with Ian Nunn, CEO Join In Sport, Graham Devereux, Join In Sport Co-ordinator, Steve Williams, Chairman of Overton Recreation Centre, and Sir George Young MP
THE Olympics might be over, but dozens of local sports clubs have already started holding taster sessions to help create a lasting legacy from the historic London 2012 games.
Organised by Join In Local Sport, clubs have been encouraged to offer free or discounted sessions as a way to capture the enthusiasm from the games’ solid gold success.
Backed by Team GB, numerous events are taking place across the borough throughout the weekend, and during the coming weeks.
Overton Recreation Centre is holding an event on Sunday from midday until 4pm, when members of the public will be invited to join in with a number of sporting activities at the sports ground, in Bridge Street.
These include athletics, cricket, football, rugby, swimming, tennis, cycling, squash and table tennis.
On August 25, Old Basing Archers are inviting people to try out the sport at The Recreation Ground, in The Street, between 10am and 1pm. And on August 19, Gringo Capoeria Club is holding a free Join In session at Fitness First, in Chineham Business Park, Stag Oak Lane.
The Afro-Brazilian martial art involves dancing, fighting, acrobatics and music, and the session will give beginners a taste between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
In total, more than 5,000 events are taking place across the UK. Sporting icons Daley Thompson, Sharron Davies and Jonathan Edwards will join forces as part of the weekend celebrations, completing a cross-country challenge and visiting some of the sports clubs taking part.
Ian Nunn, chief executive of The Join In Trust, who lives in Overton, said: “The aim is to bring the spirit of the Olympic Games back to the local community.
“The idea is to try to boost sport in the community with not only new players but more importantly getting more people helping out at their local sports clubs.
“What we know around the country is that sport is limited more by the number of people helping out and volunteering rather than the actual participants.”
HRH Prince William, has given his backing to the event. He said: “The incredible achievements of Team GB at London 2012 would not have been possible without the work that goes on at sports clubs up and down the country to forge the athletes of the future. Join In UK will provide thousands of people a chance to volunteer.”
Join In Local Sport is an independent charity funded by the Government set up to boost local sport on the first weekend after the Olympics closing ceremony.
It is hoped that if it is a success, there will be a Join In day once every year to commemorate the Olympic Games. For more information about events taking place in the borough visit joininuk.org.
