The Flintshire Schools Olympic Torch Relay has now gone beyond its halfway point, with St Mary’s RC Primary School in Flint transferring Flintshire’s Festival of Youth torch to Ysgol Maes Hyfryd and Flint High School. The sleet and the hail didn’t dampen the spirits of the children, and over 300 of them took part in walking the Festival of Youth torch to Ysgol Maes Hyfryd, with representatives from four to eleven year olds. Assistance was provided by teachers, parents and Flintshire’s Platinum Young Ambassador for London 2012 Steve Thomas.
Every child in the school has been involved in the project. The School council met and discussed their ideas and suggested an assembly, with every class taking one aspect of the Games, e.g. History of the Olympics; time line of the Modern Olympics, the symbolism of the five rings; events then and now; dress then and now; and the London 2012 bid. The Assembly took place earlier this week with a variety of invited guests attending.
Whilst in possession of the torch, every pupil has been encouraged to engage in Flintshire’s ‘Torch Relay Pledge’. This pledge encourages every pupil to participate in a minimum of 20 minutes and 12 seconds of physical activity or sport every school day in the build up to the 2012 games. If pupils stick to the pledge, they will participate in around 200 hours of physical activity in the build up to London 2012.
Schools have also been delivering Olympic themed PE sessions, playground activities and classroom based activities to encourage their pupils to learn about the Olympic values.
Councillor Dennis Hutchinson, Executive Member for Leisure and Public Protection, said:
Steve Thomas, Flintshire’s Platinum Young Ambassador, is delighted to see so many schools engaging with the project:
“The project’s purpose is to get children active through the inspiration of London 2012, whilst also teaching them about the history and values of the games which will hopefully encourage them to participate in sport both in the build up and on the back of London 2012. That is the impact and legacy that this project will provide and I would like to thank St Mary’s Primary School for embracing the torch relay with such enthusiasm’’.
The torch will now be transferred between schools in Flint before reaching Hawarden, Buckley and Deeside schools on its final lap next year. The project will reach its conclusion at the Festival of Youth Sport games next year, which will take place 100 days before the London 2012 games begin.
