Shining Light Charlotte awarded for Community Games legacy
Charlotte Keene was today presented with a Community Games commemorative jersey for her role as a ‘Shining Light’ in creating a ‘legacy’ within her community by hosting a Community Games.
Charlotte, from Plymouth, has also been invited to a special VIP day in London to take part in the official opening of Olympic venue, The Copper Box (which played host to handball during the Games), with a ceremony taking place at Queen Elizabeth Park on July 27 mirroring the day that the torch officially arrived at Olympic Park in 2012.
Community Games is an Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy programme funded by the Social Action Fund and delivered by the County Sports Partnership Network (CSPN) and the YMCA.
The celebration was part of the Community Games Relay which is retracing the footsteps of the original Olympic torch relay. Each day of the 70 day relay a spotlight will be placed on an area to celebrate Community Games and the ‘great’ people bringing the programme to life across the country.
To celebrate the success of Community Games, and the Community Games Relay, at the end of the relay, all 69 ‘shining lights’ will be invited to come together on day 70 at the Olympic Park in London for a major celebration organised by the Government’s Olympic and Paralympic Legacy team and headed up by Lord Seb Coe.
Charlotte organised a successful Summer Sports Community Games Festival at the Mountbatten Centre last year. Hundreds of people turned up to try the wealth of sport taster sessions on offer at the event. Traditional sports such as football, golf and table tennis proved popular in the ‘come and try’ sessions as did table cricket and canoe simulators. Water sports also featured highly with sailing, canoeing and rowing sessions all fully booked. One of the canoe beginners said it was the best day he had ever had and many of the participants said they would be interested in taking up the sport they tried on a regular basis.
The day also offered volunteering opportunities as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy with a Sport Makers workshop taking place, run by Ladies England Rugby Player, Danielle Waterman.
James Bogue, Sport Maker Co-ordinator said “Many of the National Governing Bodies for Sport present on the day were impressed with the layout and venue. They said it was a great sight to see children and adults getting involved in so many different sports.”
The festival proved such a success, that residents from across Devon are being given the chance to re-live the Olympic Torch Relay celebrations one year on, thanks to Community Games at the second annual festival which will be held this weekend on Saturday 25th May at the Mountbatten Centre again.
Charlotte said: “I am delighted the Community Games Relay is providing us with the opportunity to celebrate the one-year-anniversary of the Olympic Torch Relay passing through Devon and the success of the first event has secured the Summer Sports Festival as a permanent feature on the calendar now.”
She continues: “This year is proving to be bigger and better than last, we have sports, activities, music and entertainment on offer – fun for all the family and with the exception of powerboating, everything is free to try.”
Helen Pope of Active Devon County Sport Partnership added: ““We are delighted Community Games will shine a spotlight on Devon as the programme re-traces the steps of the Olympic and Paralympic torch relay route.
“Last year Community Games helped bring friends, families and communities together in celebration of London 2012, in a way like no other. We hope people will continue to support Devon Community Games events again this year.”
Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England, said: “We are proud of the YMCA’s association with Community Games. A significant part of our day-to-day work is dedicated to getting people active and in turn, creating healthy communities.
“Through Community Games we have already seen thousands of people – from young children to adults - coming together across the country to engage in these events, including many who perhaps wouldn’t have done something like this without the inspiration of the Olympics and Paralympics. Last year there was more than 1,600 Community Games taking place across England – we hope this year there will be even more."
The Summer Sports Festival takes place at the Mountbatten Centre, Plymouth on Saturday 25th May 2013 from 11am to 4:30pm, free parking is available and no booking is required.
