Playing for Gold


Interested in the London 2012 Olympics ?   Wondering how you can get involved ? 

  Think the Olympics is only for people in London ? Well it's not. EdNews have spoken to Carl Dalton and Joe Steel from the Play and Activities Development team of Bradford Council. To involve the area more with the Olympic 2012 games they have made a new group called "Playing for Gold". It's a group that has been recognised by the London 2012 Olympic organisation for doing a great job at representing sport and changing our attitudes towards being healthy, and it's based in Bradford ! They have even achieved an Inspire Mark from the Olympic organisation. So for all you Olympic enthusiasts and all of you that aren't sure, this is how we can get involved, and how lots of us can win tickets...
 The "Playing for Gold" team was launched in Bradford in March of 2010 and have been up and running in schools and community centres since then for people to come and take part. In 2010 alone Playing for Gold staff have been to 20 different schools and reached over 2,500 young people. The group is the only one of its kind in the country, in that it not only teaches sport, but it teaches other skills such as group skills and cultural awareness. Also there are sessions on craft skills and other activities for those of us who aren't sporty types. For this reason the Olympic organisation has awarded the group the Inspire Mark which is due to the high quality of its delivery and its uniqueness.
  Bradford Gold is the local organisation supporting 2012 Olympics. The team talked about the new Olympics 'Get Set' website where you can register yourself, blog and enter some competitions which can win you a free ticket to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. And don't think there's no chance of winning. There are 175,000 tickets being handed out. With 50,000 tickets being handed out to schools in London alone, and  another 50,000 going to schools and colleges across the rest of the UK you're bound to win. Just think of the opportunity, to be at the next Olympics/Paralympics and witness the next gold medalists representing England in the amazing worldwide event.
  We can reveal that the official Olympic torch will be on tour next year and is coming to cities near you, even as close as Bradford for a lunchtime ceremony. The torch is then spending the night in Leeds.
  So, to get involved and possibly win yourself a ticket, and the chance of a lifetime, then you can either ask your teacher how to enter the competition, or check out the website and register yourself using the link above.
  If you're in Bradford and want to be part of the Playing for Gold experience contact Carl Dalton of the Play and Activities Development team at carl.dalton@bradford.gov.uk to sign up.
Tom Lillywhite