National School Sport Week gets underway across Scotland

Yesterday over 700 Glasgow schoolchildren marked the start of Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, Scotland’s biggest school sporting event, with a day of Olympic and Paralympic sport.  Pupils also celebrated the start of the Week by setting a Guinness World Record.  The pupils were joined at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow by Multiple World and Olympic Champion Sir Chris Hoy MBE, Olympic Gold Medallist Jason Gardener, Commonwealth Games and Sport Minister Shona Robison MSP, sportscotland Chief Executive Stewart Harris and Managing Director for Lloyds Banking Group Scotland, Lady Susan Rice.

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, delivered in partnership with sportscotland – the national agency for sport, runs from 6 to 10 June and will involve over 330,000 pupils from 1,400 schools from every region in Scotland in holding Opening and Closing ceremonies, torch relays and inter and intra school competitions to celebrate the excitement of London 2012 in their community.

As well as giving local Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils of all abilities the chance to set their own personal bests in a variety of Olympic and Paralympic sports, yesterday’s event in Glasgow also witnessed the setting of a new Guinness World Record as 191 pupils set a new record for ‘The most people to run 100m in a one hour relay’.  The start and end of the record attempt was marked by Shona Robison MSP and Bank of Scotland Ambassador for London 2012, Sir Chris Hoy MBE.  Olympic Gold Medal winner in the 4x100m relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Jason Gardener was also on hand to offer pupils advice and support.

Throughout the day, organised in partnership with Glasgow Life and sportscotland’s Active Schools network, pupils visited a variety of sport stations including Javelin, Long Jump, Badminton and Basketball and were encouraged to set a new personal best in each activity.

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week uses the power of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to inspire school children across Scotland to take part in more sport.  School registration has soared in 2011, with 1,400 schools registering to take part.  This is over 50% of primary and secondary schools in Scotland and almost double the number of schools that participated in the event’s inaugural year in 2010, when 735 schools took part.

Multiple World and Olympic Champion Sir Chris Hoy MBE said: “It’s inspiring to see so many schools getting involved in sport across the country during Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week.  It was amazing to see pupils working together to set a new World Record today in Glasgow.  It is a terrific achievement and highlights the opportunities Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week offers pupils as we look towards London 2012 next year.”

Susan Rice, Managing Director for Lloyds Banking Group 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.  We are delighted that nearly half of all primary and secondary schools will take part during the week and that our partnership with London 2012 is bringing so much excitement and opportunities to communities around Scotland.  The incredible success of Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Gardener make them a true inspiration to pupils across Scotland as they embark on a week of sport and activity.”

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said “As a nation we Scots are passionate about our sport and I hope that major events like the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will act as an inspiration to people to increase their levels of physical activity.

“In my new role as dedicated Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport I want to ensure that we can encourage young people to make lasting lifestyle changes and help to make Scotland a more active and healthier nation.

“Schools are vital in ensuring young people have access to a range of sports and I am delighted to see initiatives like this proving to be such a success. This builds on the activities already offered through our Active Schools Network which aims to offer all young people the opportunities and motivation to get involved in sport and successful athletes like Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Gardener play a major role in providing that motivation.”

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 provide young people with additional ways of getting involved in sport, building on the activities already offered through our Active Schools Network.  Active Schools aims to offer all young people the opportunities and motivation to get involved in sport and successful athletes like Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Gardener play a major role in providing that motivation, encouraging young Scots to get active and stay active.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: “Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week gets bigger every year, with more young people being encouraged, inspired and motivated to take up sport and be the best they can be. This is what our London 2012 legacy vision is all about.”

This year, Bank of Scotland is also urging parents to get behind National School Sport Week and pledge their support online for their child taking part in the week.  Schools that reach the minimum number of parent pledges will be in with a chance of winning Games tickets for their pupils, and even run with the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.