Athletes on mission to fire up youngsters (From Swindon Advertiser)

Athletes on mission to fire up youngsters

11:40pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

OLYMPIC gold medallists Linford Christie and Darren Campbell are set to meet budding Swindon athletes.

The two sports stars will visit Broadgreen as part of a Street Athletics event being run by their sports management company in conjunction with Swindon Council.

The council hopes to attract more than 200 young people from across Swindon to take part in the event on Wednesday, July 29.

Four 60m sprint contests, broken up into age groups, will be held.

The top three male and female runners in each age category — under 13s, 15s, 17s, and 20s — will go on to compete against young people from 13 other towns in Manchester in September.

Other attractions lined up include music and dance act Kombat Breakers, who made it to the final of ITV programme Britain’s Got Talent.

Representatives from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Wiltshire Police and local athletics clubs will also be at the event.

Every person who takes part in the competition will receive a free Nike T-shirt.

Doug Imrie, the coaching co-ordinator for leisure services for Swindon Council, said: “It is really just to try and get some new people involved in sport and activities.

“It is a chance for young people to take part in something they wouldn’t do normally and meet Olympic gold medallists.”

Mr Imrie said the council particularly wanted young people from Park South, Park North, Walcot, Penhill, Pinehurst, Toothill and Moredon to get involved.

He said: “That is where the young people don’t really have the facilities and clubs to engage at a local level. This is their opportunity to take part in a big event.”

Coun Keith Williams, the cabinet member for leisure and corporate services, said: “This event is an opportunity for young people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities who are not engaged in mainstream sports to have a go and see if they have some untapped talent.”

Anyone who would like more information on the event has been asked to call Mr Imrie on 01793 511033, visit the www.facebook.com page Swindon Street Athletics or visit www.challenge swindon.org.uk.

l The following roads will be closed between 9am and 5.30pm on the day of the Street Athletics event, Wednesday, July 29: Broad Street from the junction with Graham Street to Ponting Street, and sections of Salisbury Street and Gladstone Street where they adjoin Broad Street.