Bring out your inner athlete and join Leicester’s own olympic festivities.
This summer, as the entire UK gears up for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, local sport lovers should dust off their old trainers to celebrate with style the biggest event of the year.
Live streaming at Humberstone gate’s big screen
Hundreds of spectators can enjoy the buzz of the Games by following the action minute by minute at the live site on Humberstone Gate. The televised screening will commence on Friday 27 July for the length of the Olympics as well as for the Paralympics’ inaugural ceremony on Saturday 25 August from 10am to 4pm.
The gold challange
With the Games just around the corner, locals are getting ready to embrace the Olympic vibe. The Gold Challenge is inviting people to play sport and raise money for their chosen charity in the build-up to London 2012 and beyond. The programme encourages everyone aged 16 or over to test themselves in five, 10, 20, or 30 Olympic and Paralympic Sports. Participants will have to undertake a minimum of three hours coaching to learn a new sport or complete an endurance such as marathon or triathlon in local clubs and leisure centres.
For more information about The Gold Challenge visit www.goldchallenge.org
Sportivate
Similarly, Sportivate is capturing the excitement of London 2012 as it offers sporting opportunities for teenagers and young adults aged 14-25 to receive up to two months of coaching in the sport of their choice. The programme, which received an investment of £32 million of National Lottery Funding, started in April and will run until March 2015.
If you want to get involved with Sportivate visit www.lrsport.org
Cultural Olympiad
The spirit of the Olympics goes beyond sport as a local artist takes the lead to honour London’s 2012 Cultural Olympiad with The Lionheart Project. It will feature three giant hand crocheted lion sculptures, created by Shauna Richardson to reflect the region in both symbol and material. The Lionheart project offers people from all ages the chance to get involved through studio visits and other activities. It will stop in Leicester’s Orton Square from June 23 to July 10, before heading off to London in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Barrowlympix 2012, The kids’ games
Local children are having their own version of the Olympics this summer with Barrowlympix 2012 at Humphrey Perkins High School. The event will bring members of the community together to compete for gold in junior football, 5km run, 1 mile fun run, mini tennis tournaments, bike rides, crazy golf, crazy fling, BMX track and many more.
