Olympics Countdown Celebrated at Derby College
More than 60 Sports students at Derby College celebrated the 2012 hours countdown to the opening of the Olympic Games in London with an inclusive sporting challenge.
The 2012 hours to go clock started ticking on Saturday morning (May 5) at 4am so students held their event in anticipation of this momentous countdown.
Students took part in teams from different countries in each continent and competed in a range of minority sports – designed to celebrate the Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship and the Paralympic values of inspiration, courage, determination and equality.
Throughout the day, teams competed in table tennis, volley ball, hockey, football, indoor canoeing and basketball as well as Paralympic sport Boccia – a sport resembling bowls of which Derby College are East Midlands champions. The day finished with a medal ceremony complete with the national anthems of the winning countries.
Among the organisers were Sports student Jodie Payen (18) and Jordan Butler (18) who are both from Littleover.
Jodie said: “There has been a real buzz in the sports hall with a wide range of students taking part in the activities.
“We wanted to organise something that would highlight the more under represented sports in the Olympics and Paralympics and make this an inclusive event that gives everybody the chance to take part.”
Jordan Butler added: “Everybody is really excited about the Olympics with many of us either going to see events or volunteering at venues.
“London 2012 is only really around the corner and event like this shows just how close we are to the greatest show on earth coming here to the UK.”
Derby College is part The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Get Set network, in recognition of their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values through the London 2012 education programme.
Derby College’s work to earn the Get Set network status has included working with young people and teachers in Malawi, setting up a Sportsability Club at the College to provide a range of sporting opportunities for students with disabilities and running the Sports Fusion European student event at the College.
Derby College Assistant Principal, Sport and Leisure Peter Gordon, said: “As a College we are totally committed to the Olympic and Paralympic values and wanted to mark the 2012 hours countdown which would bring together students at all levels of their development.
“This event has therefore been designed by the students themselves to highlight minority sports within the College, bring students of different ability levels together and remind us all that, from the following morning that there are just 2012 hours to go until the start of the games.
“We are all proud that London is hosting the Olympic Games and we want to make sure that this is one to remember for all of our students and for the surrounding communities.”
“The next major Olympics event for the College will be our Celebration Week in June which brings together students across the College to mark their achievements, with an Olympics theme.
“And we are also very involved in the plans for the Olympics Torch Relay coming to the city on June 29 with more than 130 of our Public Services students helping to marshall the route and celebration events in the city.”