Vale teens chosen as sporting ambassadors to inspire others in run up to London 2012 Olympics

Published 07 February 2011

The sporting dreams and aspirations of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics are being used by a group of ‘Young Ambassadors’ from the Vale of Glamorgan to inspire their fellow school pupils to pursue a lifetime of physical activity.

Fourteen sporty teenagers from Vale secondary schools have been selected to become either ‘Gold Ambassadors’ or ‘Adistars’ (Silver Ambassadors) and be role models to their peers. They have all been chosen for the excellent example they have set by volunteering their time in schools and local clubs to help others participate in sport.

The Olympics and Paralympics are being used as a catalyst to help them motivate others to get their trainers on, get down their local leisure centre, join a sports club, or do whatever they can to lead a healthier lifestyle.

It’s all part of a national initiative created with the support of Sport Wales, Welsh Local Authorities, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Youth Sport Trust, Adidas and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

Two of the Vale’s teenagers have been appointed as ‘Gold Ambassadors’ - Will Thomas from Cowbridge Comprehensive School and Jess Richards from Llantwit Major Comprehensive School. They were selected by a panel of representatives from the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s sports and play team and education departments.

Explaining why the pair were chosen, the Vale Council’s 5x60 scheme line manager Ben Williams said: "Ten young people aged between 15 and 17 were interviewed for the two Gold Ambassador positions. The calibre of candidates was very high and they all did very well in what would have been the first interview for many of them. Will and Jess both showed excellent potential to become role models. Will is a prefect and has volunteered countless hours to assist with badminton and basketball sessions which have been arranged through the 5x60 scheme, which encourages pupils to take part in extra-curricular sports and achieve the target of five hours (5x60) worth of exercise each week."

Ben continued: "Jess is equally deserving of being a Gold Ambassador. She is a trained lifeguard and has put those skills to good use by helping out with a number of swimming pool based 5x60 sessions at her school, while she has volunteered more than 100 hours at the YMCA gymnastics club in Barry as a young coach."

All Gold Ambassadors and Adistars in the Vale of Glamorgan are also signed up to the Vale Council’s own ‘Young Sports Leaders’ programme, giving them additional training and qualifications to help them in their development as sports leaders and coaches in exchange for volunteering in their schools and local communities.

As the Gold Ambassadors become more experienced and even more youngsters get involved across Wales, the long-term plan is to create an additional higher level of ‘Platinum Ambassadors’, while younger children will also be included by encouraging ‘Bronze Ambassadors’ to be developed in primary schools. At all times, the youngsters who are involved will be encouraged to come up with their own ideas on how to take the schemes forward.

Ben is hoping that the Young Ambassador initiative and the ‘Olympic effect’ will play its part in helping to turn the London 2012 vision of creating a sporting legacy in Great Britain into a reality. He said: "Like everyone else who works in grassroots sport in Wales, I hope that having the Olympic and Paralympic Games on our doorstep will have a massive positive effect in inspiring youngsters to firstly get involved in sport, and secondly to aim for the elite level and emulate the likes of Jessica Ennis, Rebecca Adlington, Tom Daley and Bradley Wiggins."

To find out more about the Young Ambassadors initiative, and the 5x60 scheme in the Vale of Glamorgan, please call Ben Williams on 07725 829801.

Photo caption 1:Cowbridge Comprehensive School pupil Will Thomas has been selected as a ‘Gold Ambassador’ to inspire other teenagers in the Vale of Glamorgan to get involved in sport.

Photo caption 2: Jess Richards has been chosen to be a sporty role model for her voluntary coaching work and the way she helps out with water-based 5x60 sessions at Llantwit Major Comprehensive School.

Read other local community sports and play news from the Vale of Glamorgan.