Eastbank Primary School today showed they were ready for this year's biggest school sport event when their swimming class led a call to action for all schools to register for Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, being delivered in partnership with sportscotland, the national agency for sport and taking place between 6th – 10th June. The pupils were joined by Robbie Renwick, swimmer, Scottish Olympian and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist; sportscotland Chief Executive Stewart Harris and Bank of Scotland Local Director, Bobby Roberts, who all pledged their support of the week which encourages Scottish schools 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.
The primary 7 pupils from Eastbank Primary, started their build up to Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week in style when their weekly swimming class was overseen by Olympic swimmer Robbie Renwick who also answered their questions on taking part in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and what the theme of 'Set your Personal Best' means to him.
With registration now open for Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, schools are being encouraged to sign up early to receive a free 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.
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 Tollcross Olympian Robbie Renwick said “I attended an inter-school event in Oban with over 650 pupils during the 2010 Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week and saw first hand how much the pupils enjoyed all the activities. The enthusiasm from Eastbank Primary today highlights the massive interest there is for more opportunities to learn more about sport so I encourage every school in Scotland to get themselves registered 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. The incredible success Robbie Renwick has already as a Scottish Olympian and Commonwealth Games Medallist 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 Robbie Renwick on their journey to becoming an Olympian has a major role to play in inspiring the next generation.”
• Schools can register for Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week 2011 at www.schoolsportsweekscotland.org
• Registered schools will receive a free teacher planning and activity pack, full of ideas to help plan their week and ensure the whole school can get involved
ENDS
For media enquiries:
Bank of Scotland:
Andrew Sinclair T: 0141 204 6762 E: andrew@materialmc.co.uk
sportscotland:
Karen McCall T: 0141 534 6588 E: Karen.mccall@sportscotland.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
Bank of Scotland and London 2012:
As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland is a Proud Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our mission is to inspire and support young people, colleagues, communities and businesses across Scotland all the way to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond, through cultural and sporting activities.
sportscotland:
sportscotland is the national agency for sport, joining up the people, places and thinking that make sport happen. We passionately believe in the benefits of sport and continue to focus on increasing opportunities for children and young people to participate in sport.
sportscotland is working in partnership with Bank of Scotland to deliver National School Sport Week. We are supporting the programme through our Active Schools network - which is at the forefront of developing sport and physical activity in Scottish schools.
Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week:
Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week is part of the biggest school sporting event in the UK, run alongside the Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week in England and Wales, part of the London 2012 Get Set education programme. The concept was created by the Youth Sport Trust and in 2010, over 15,000 schools and five million children took part, reaching nearly 40% of the schools in the UK. It ran in Scotland for the first time in 2010 in partnership with sportscotland and 735 schools took part. http://www.schoolsportweekscotland.org
Bank of Scotland Local Heroes:
Bank of Scotland is also supporting promising and emerging British sporting talent on their journey to London 2012 and beyond through Bank of Scotland Local Heroes in partnership with SportsAid. The Bank of Scotland Local Heroes programme has a national reach with local impact, supporting 32 athletes from across Scotland with awards of £1,000 to help with the costs of training and competing at national and international level.
London 2012 Get Set:
Get Set is the official London 2012 education programme for schools and colleges across the UK. It provides free learning resources for 3-19 year olds to find out more about the Games and explore the Olympic Values of excellence, friendship and respect, and the Paralympic Values of determination, inspiration, courage and equality. It also offers access to exciting prizes and opportunities through participation in competitions and partner programmes. There are currently over 15,000 schools and colleges registered with Get Set.
Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week is part of Get Set + and is featured within PE and School Sport theme.
All schools that are participating in Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week can access exclusive rewards and recognition from London 2012 by joining the Get Set network. Members of the network will be the first in line to take advantage of the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative which will see children and young people across the UK receive tickets to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There are lots of other benefits to joining the network too, including tours of the Olympic Park, visits from athletes, as well as a plaque and certificate and use of the London 2012 education logo. To find out more visit: www.london2012.com/getset.