Wirral students get first look at 2012 Olympic stadium

Dec 2 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

TWO lucky Wirral pupils had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see first-hand the progress being made in preparing for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Year eight students, Mark Mazier and Allysha Billington from St John Plessington Catholic College, Plessington, were part of a group of 10 pupils from across the North West who won a competition to visit the Olympic Park and see the construction of some of the iconic facilities.

The tour also highlighted the many ways in which the North West is getting involved.

Manchester-born Olympic gold and silver medallist Darren Campbell was on hand to tell his story of living the Olympic dream, while Shaunna Thompson, 100m Commonwealth Youth Games record-holder and Sale Harrier, shared her ambitions for competing at London 2012.

Mark said: “It was really exciting seeing the Olympic Park. I think it’s brilliant that London is hosting the Games.

“I think London 2012 will inspire lots of young people to follow the great Olympians’ ambitions and dreams.”

Launched by Jonathan Edwards on a visit to Manchester in May 2009, the competition aimed to encourage schools and colleges to sign up to Get Set, the London 2012 Education Programme. Winning students wrote blogs explaining how they were living the Olympic and Paralympic values, or how they planned to live the values in the future.

Andy Worthington, Chair of the Steering Group for the 2012 Games, said: “Capturing the imaginations of young people is a major part of what the Games is all about.”