Rosie finds out more about the ‘Join In’ weekend, harnessing the Olympic fever and coming to a town near you in August. Ed
In the immediate afterglow of the Olympic Games, a national sporting weekend is being setup in the UK, with 5,000 events organised nationwide in an attempt to retain the unprecedented enthusiasm for sport that was brought about by London 2012.
The ‘join in’ weekend, organised by ‘Join in Local Sport’; an independent charity funded by the government, but rapidly becoming a grassroots campaign, is due to occur on the 18th and 19th of August.
Backed by Olympians
The event is being backed by Olympic medal winners both past and present, as well as important public figures including HRH the Duke of Cambridge and Prime Minister, David Cameron.
David Moorcraft, Director of Sport at Join in, and 5,000 metre world record holder, said: “No host country has ever done what we are trying to do with the ‘Join In’ weekend and that is to capture this magic moment for all time.”
Try out something new
The aim of the weekend is to encourage people to join local sporting activities, or just try out a new sport, with many sports clubs giving free lesson in sports ranging from canoeing to karate.
In all there are currently more than 36 fields of sports on offer, with activities registered in every nation and region in the UK. We took a look and there are plenty of options taking place on the Isle of Wight too.
All aboard the Battle Bus
Join In have arranged for a ‘battle bus’ to tour the entirety of the country with legendary sports figures Daley Thompson, Sharron Davies, Jonathan Edwards and broadcaster John Inverdale aboard.
They intend to visit as many of the 5000 events as possible over the weekend to give encouragement and support. There will also be surprise visits from current Olympians, who will volunteer their time in the hope that the volunteering spirit brought out by the Olympics will carry on long afterwards.
Find out the joy that sport can bring
His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cambridge, praised the efforts: “The incredible achievements of Team GB at London 2012 would not have been possible without the work that goes on at sports clubs up and down the country to forge the athletes of the future.
“Join In UK will provide thousands of people a chance to volunteer in their local club or even try – for free – a sport that may be new to them and to experience for themselves, at whatever level of ability, the joy that sport can bring.”
