The Olympics Come to Wigan!

The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games are sure to grip the nation and now Wigan Borough’s sporting fraternity have been given a glimpse of how the Games can benefit people across the borough.

Wigan Borough Sports Council gathered at Robin Park Arena on Thursday evening for a specially arranged meeting to hear Rob Young, North West Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games, explain how the borough’s 306,000 residents can ‘be inspired’ by the Olympics.

Rob’s role is to spread the Olympic message across the North West and to ensure that the lasting legacy has a positive impact on areas such as Wigan and Leigh; not just the capital. The ‘Northwest Legacy Framework’, presented by Rob at the meeting, outlines ways in which the region can get involved in, and benefit from, the 2012 Olympics.

Rob highlighted his and the 2012 team’s vision that the Olympics will inspire people of all ages and abilities to become more physically active, more involved in volunteering and coaching and will also increase business and tourism development opportunities in our region.

Rob explained,

“We want the whole country to connect with 2012. My role is to work with local authorities, sport enthusiasts and the voluntary sector to help create greater awareness of the opportunities for people living in the North West that will emerge in the run up to the Olympics. We want the whole country to connect with 2012. One way in which people may witness the Olympic spirit at first hand, and get involved with elite athletes is through the team training camps, some of which could be based in Wigan or Leigh.”

Wigan Borough is one of the first places on the regional map to benefit from Rob’s insight as he tours the North West to spread the Olympics ‘message’. Trevor Barton, Chair of Wigan Borough Sports Council believes the Olympics will inspire young local talent.

Trevor said,

“We have a lot of great talent in this borough and we hope the Olympics will energise more young people to take up sport and other related activities – there are hundreds of ways to get involved. We want people in the borough to use our fantastic sports facilities to achieve their own dreams and become the stars of the future. That’s what we do.”

Rodney Hill, Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said,

“We are all gearing up 2012, so that we and the voluntary sector can work together to create a legacy that children, young people and families in the Wigan Borough will be inspired by. The Trust works hard with the Borough Sports Council to create opportunities to get active and get involved. With support from people like Rob and the regional bodies we hope the Olympics can be a catalyst to achieve our goal to Get Wigan Active.”

For more information about Wigan Borough Sports Council visit www.wbsc.org.uk, or call Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unit on 01942 404 982.

To learn more about the Northwest Legacy Framework for the 2012 Games, or to obtain a copy of the framework visit www.nwda.co.uk.

Notes To Editors

For further information on this press release please contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942 486937.

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over 300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough.

Getting Wigan Active

Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more physically, mentally and creatively active . It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good citizenship.