Carlisle’s Mini-Olympics

More than 100 youngsters take part in sporting challenge

(Date of issue: Tuesday, 12 August 2008)

More than 100 children from Carlisle will take part in a Mini-Olympics tomorrow (Wednesday, 13 August), at The Sheepmount Stadium, between 1pm and 5pm.

Around 120 have signed-up to the Carlisle City Council organised event. Youngsters aged between 8 and 12 years old from Botcherby, Denton Holme, Greystone, Harraby, Petteril Bank, and Yewdale will be able to try their hand at some Olympic sports.

Carlisle City Council’s Sheepmount Stadium has been chosen as a potential training site for athletes taking part in the London 2012 Olympics and tomorrow’s event will an opportunity for young people to try out different track and field events including shot put, high jump, long jump and javelin. Following the Olympic theme, there will also be an opportunity to try their hands at volleyball, a ‘taster’ sport.

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:

"The aim of our Mini-Olympics event was to bring communities together for a fun sporting experience. It follows on from the success from of last year’s Sport & Fun days and will be a great way for local children to get try their hand at some Olympic events."

The young people will have a record of the times and distances they achieve throughout the afternoon’s events for them to keep for future records. Olympic medals, kindly sponsored by Story, will also be presented to all those taking part.