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Worthy event to leave Olympic legacy

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A torch bearer from Bristol inspired by London 2012 has decided to organise a mammoth two-day Community Games so others can enjoy the magic of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mum-of-two and Lloyds TSB branch manager Sharon Worthy was overwhelmed by her own Olympic moment, carrying the torch in Combe Martin in North Devon, she’s decided to organise an event in her home town to create a lasting legacy of the Games in the area.

The Portbury Village Community Games is being held on Saturday and Sunday (September 8 and 9) at Portbury Recreational Field from 10am to 4pm.

Sharon, aged 39, was nominated to carry the torch because of her contribution to community life.

She was triumphant in helping organise the erection of a playground in a local park in just three months. And was successful in organising a royal wedding party, for the community, with hundreds turning out for the event.

Now she wants to bring the community together once more, this time through the nation-wide initiative, Community Games. And, she’s pledged if it’s a success next Saturday and Sunday she’ll run it annually.

She said:

“I am running the event to carry on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games by getting people together through sports and cultural activities.

We will be offering 25 different sports for people to try on the day and we’ve even contacted a few Paralympic sports clubs to see if they can come along also.

When I carried the torch through Combe Martin I was overwhelmed with pride, it was a very inspirational day. I want to ensure people in the area are inspired by the Games now and in the future.

There is a great sense of community spirit in Portbury with lots of events happening regularly. I feel very fortunate that there are so many people in the community who are always willing to volunteer and help out to make events like the Community Games such a success – it just wouldn’t be possible without their help.”

Sharon admitted she doesn’t get chance to catch a breath, juggling home and work life and organising a Community Games, but said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

There have been a number of Community Games organised locally. Steve Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of the West of England Sport Trust (Westport), said they have enabled people in the town and county to embrace the Olympics.

He said:

“We have been overwhelmed by the success of Community Games in the area. These events have been organised by volunteers, like Sharon, who have put their time and dedication in to these community sporting and cultural events.

I believe that they have not only helped create an lasting Olympic legacy in the area but they have also helped bring families and communities back together again, as well as encouraging more people to take up sport in this special Olympic year.”

For more information about Community Games log on to www.communitygames.org or www.facebook.com/communitygamesuk

KEY FACTS:

Community Games:

  • The Community Games programme was launched in the West Midlands in 2009 and was originally funded for three years by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  • Since its launch more than 750 games have already taken place involving more than 500,000 people.
  • Community Games is inspired by the Wenlock Olympian Games founded by Dr William Penny Brookes in 1850 and still held annually in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. The Wenlock Olympian Games were the inspiration behind the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games when Baron Pierre du Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic movement, visited the games in 1890. The Community Games programme pays homage to a community event that inspired a global event, and now uses that global event to inspire a new raft of community events.

 Legacy Trust UK:

  • Legacy Trust UK is an independent charity set up to create a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from London 2012 in communities across the UK.
  • The Trust is funded by a £40 million endowment from the Big Lottery Fund (£29m), Department for Culture Media and Sport (£6m) and Arts Council England (£5m), and is a Principal Funder of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival. www.legacytrustuk.org

The YMCA:

  • Founded 168 years ago, the YMCA in England is made up of 121 member YMCAs working to ensure that young people have opportunities to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.
  • YMCA operates in over 530 different communities in England impacting upon the lives of over 500,000 people every year.
  • Every night YMCAs provide over 9,000 beds for young people. The YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of safe, supported accommodation for single men and women aged between 16-30 years old.
  • The YMCA enables nearly 24,000 people every year to engage in education, skills and training to enable them to improve their opportunities in the job market.
  • The YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of health and wellbeing services promoting physical activity.

The County Sports Partnership Network (CSPN):

  • The County Sports Partnership Network brings together 49 County Sports Partnerships from across England, and is responsible for supporting the delivery of national sports policy at a local level by shaping it to the needs of local communities.
  • The CSPN contributes to the health of the nation by helping local people lead healthier, active lives.
  • The CSPN brings together the knowledge and expertise of a range of local delivery partners – including local authorities, clubs and schools – which enables it to use resources in the most efficient way possible to deliver sport in local communities.

Donna Roddy, Citydesk Sport, on behalf of Community Games.

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