Judo Olympian promotes National School Sport Week 2011!
With less than 500 days to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, one of Scotland’s brightest medal hopes for London 2012, Judo star Euan Burton, today paid a special visit to his old school, Pencaitland Primary School in East Lothian. He was there to promote registration for this year’s biggest school sporting event – Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, taking place from 6 – 10 June.
Over 700 schools have already registered to take part in this year's Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week. With over two months still to go, this is an incredible response from schools to the Week, being delivered in partnership with sportscotland, the national agency for sport through their Active Schools Network. By registering online, schools are encouraged to use the power and inspiration of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to take part in and organise their own sporting activities and events.
It was a nostalgic morning for former Pencaitland Primary pupil Euan Burton, who represented Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and is currently ranked 4th in the world in Men’s Judo. He met with 90 pupils from Primary 5, 6 and 7 in the sports hall where he once took PE classes. There was an exciting judo demonstration with Euan and sparring partner before the Primary 7 pupils had an opportunity to try moves themselves. It was the first time many of the pupils had tried the sport and it proved to be a truly inspirational day.
Schools are being encouraged to sign up now to receive a school resource pack, full of ideas on how to make the most of the week. Pupils will be invited to pledge to achieve a Personal Best, individually, with their class, or with their club and any level and standard. All schools that register will also have access to exclusive competitions to win tickets to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 2010 week saw 735 schools and over 175,000 school children try their hand at taster sessions of new Olympic and Paralympic sports and take part in inter and intra-school competitions and Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The 2011 looks set to be even bigger as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games draw ever closer.
Of his visit to Pencaitland, Olympian Euan Burton said “I was delighted to return to Pencaitland today and meet with the pupils who will be taking part in Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week in June. I hope my own success can inspire young people to achieve all they can in any sport they try. The enthusiasm shown today highlights the massive interest there is for more opportunities to learn more about sport so I encourage every school in Scotland to register for this fantastic event.”
Lisa Stephenson, Head of Sponsorship for Bank of Scotland said: “Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week is about using the power of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire Scotland’s young people and communities to get involved in sport and lead more active lives. Euan Burton’s achievement of competing in Beijing in 2008 and elsewhere in the sport of Judo make him a true inspiration for pupils across Scotland".
sportscotland Chief Executive, Stewart Harris said ““At sportscotland we want people to make sport a part of their lives and through National School Sport Week, we look forward to providing young people with additional ways of getting involved in sport, building on the activities already offered through our Active Schools Network. Our role is to ensure that young Scots are given more and better opportunities to get active and stay active and supporting athletes like Euan Burton on their journey to becoming an Olympian has a major role to play in inspiring the next generation.”
Elise Sutherland, Deputy Head of Pencaitland Primary School, said "Everyone at Pencaitland Primary School was delighted to welcome Euan and his team today. It's great for all of the children to have the opportunity to meet an Olympian and experience a live Judo session for themselves. Euan made the whole morning really fun and enjoyable for everyone.
I'm really looking forward to Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week in June now. It's a wonderful opportunity to let kids try new sports and discover fun ways to be active together. Hopefully it might help us produce more Olympians like Euan."