2012 Roadshow Visits Stafford

The London 2012 Roadshow rolled into Stafford this month, when it visited Stafford Borough Council’s Main Event at Rowley Park. Olympic triple jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards and Commonwealth Gold Swimmer Adam Whitehead were also in attendance to promote the 2012 Olympics and to encourage the people of Staffordshire to take part in sport. 
 

Visitors to the 2012 arena were treated to fantastic demonstrations of gymnastics, kickboxing, football juggling and circuit training, as the roadshow stopped off in Stafford for the latest leg of its 10-week countrywide tour. 

Edwards, who won Olympic gold at the Sydney Games in 2000 said, “I think it’s fantastic. When we started the Olympic Games bid process back in 2003, one of the main aims was to try and encourage more young people to take part in sport.

“There is a health crisis among young people, and so we wanted to make a real difference. We are seeing that being realised now, and we just hope the momentum will continue to grow, as more and more people get involved in sport.

“This will be good for elite sport, with more youngsters coming through, but it will also be good for the country as a whole, as people will be fitter and healthier.”

Adam Whitehead who won a Commonwealth breaststroke 100m gold medal in Manchester 2002 watched in amazement as the Stafford Acrobatic Gymnastics and Trampolining Club put on their display for the crowds. “I’m a swimmer so I felt a bit like a fish out of water here, but I enjoy watching any sport, and these kids have been fantastic” commented Whitehead.

“In this country we have a great tradition of watching sport and talking about sport, but hopefully through the roadshow we can encourage more people to actually participate in sport” he continued.

Visitors to the 2012 bus were encouraged to register for the 2012 Challenge. Participants could sign up to set themselves a challenge to achieve by 2012.