As London prepares itself for the 2012 Olympics, Tonypandy Community College has already beaten them to the winning line!
The school’s 5×60 team organised a Mini Olympics event for the benefit of its pupils and the group of 30 German schoolchildren who have been spending time with them.
Invitations to the Mini Olympics were then extended to pupils in Hawthorn High School, Tonyrefail Comprehensive School and St Johns in Aberdare.
As well as offering a great day out for pupils from across the County Borough and beyond, the day was also a good example of what can achieved by 5×60, which is part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Services For Young People provision and promotes regular exercise.
More than 80 pupils completed a carousel of events ranging from tug of war, team building, football, wheelchair basketball, table tennis and streetdance.
They had 20 minutes and 12 seconds (to mark 2012) to complete each activity where countries were competing against each other.
Points were awarded for the winners and losers of each activity and countries could also gain extra points for fair play, teamwork and sportsmanship.
And everyone agreed that had a great opportunity to try new, challenging Olympic sports and were rewarded with prizes and certificates at the end of the day.
Countries fought it out to be crowned gold, silver and bronze medalists but in the end the winners were: Sweden, with Japan in second place and the USA in third.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning Cllr Eudine Hanagan said: “This was yet another successful event which has certainly inspired young people in Tonypandy and Hawthorn schools to enjoy plenty of exericse while also having lots of fun along the way.
“With the Olympics just around the corner this has given the young people a real flavour of competitiveness and sportsmanship and hopefully inspire them to exercise more and live longer and healthier lives.
