CYP LEGACY FOR LEICESTER AND LEICESTERSHIRE - Inspire ...

26 East Midlands schools received Department of Education funding for Plan Your Own2012 projects, sharing their London 2012 enthusiasm and expertise with neighbouringschools. 5 of these were from Leicestershire and 2 from the city, 7 in total – adisproportionate figure reflecting the proactivity of city andcounty.21 East Midlands schools were selected to take part in the flag bearing Guard of Honourfor athletes ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, 7 of these werefrom the county and 2 from the city, again a disproportionate representation.City and county schools entered fully into the spirit ofLondon 2012 from the earliest possible opportunity.Early enthusiasts included Kegworth Primary School,the first Primary School in the county to join the GetSet network, whose pupils supported early InspireLeicesterShire events. Robert Smyth Academy ledthe way in terms of young ambassadors and theirproactivity earned them the first visit of a mascot to theregion.Loughborough College was the first of the region’scolleges to commit wholeheartedly to London 2012and its Flames, Lighting the Way project did just that,introducing thousands of children to the Olympic andParalympic values alongside healthy activity. TheCollege’s 1948 Torch and inspiring characters like thelate Tommy Godwin, Liam Tancock and Nicola Whitehad real impact upon the county’s youngsters.With 500 days to go to the Games Inspire LeicesterShire and the Regional Coordinatorfor CYP Legacy organised an unforgettable event which saw the 1948 Torch, carried byTommy Godwin and triathlete Mark Buckingham pass through 500 eager pairs of hands.The journey began at Loughborough College with RNIB students and moved on via StPeter and St Paul’s, Mountsorrel, Longslade College, Rushey Mead School, SoarValley College, Netherhall Special School, Taylor Road Primary School to theLeicester City football ground. There it was greeted by LCFC legend Alan Birchenall andthen manager Sven Goran-Eriksson.Further milestones enthusiasticallycelebrated were 400 days to goinvolving Charnwood Borough schoolsat Loughborough University, InspireDay at Leicester’s Live Site involvingchildren from Soar Valley College andKing Richard III Infants, 100 days togo with Abbey Primary and MayflowerPrimary and 100 Days to theParalympics with pupils from EllesmereCollege.