Video case study featuring Tyrone Swaray (4m 23s - flashplayer required to view).
Sporting Champions is a Sport England initiative which brings world-class athletes face-to-face with young people (up to age 25) to inspire and motivate them to participate in sport. As the scheme is funded by Sport England, visits are FREE of charge and currently only available in England. A visit by a Sporting Champion can help you:
- engage young people and inspire them to be active.
- get them excited about sport and joining local clubs.
- motivate them in their wider lives, through sport.
- emphasise the importance and benefits of volunteering and getting involved in the community.
In the past visits have been available mainly for schools, but 125 visits are available in 08/09 for community-based visits and are aimed at increasing participation in community sport - for example at a community sports taster day, an event aimed at deepening school and club links or a Step into Sport Conference. 25 strategic and campaigning visits are also available. Download information for SDOs.
The case studies below feature examples of good visits to support SDOs and others in the Delivery System. They are on the Promoting Sport toolkit and on the Sporting Champions website.
Promoting Cycling as part of a Healthy, Active Lifestyle
Event: A cycle ride to launch Cycle Essex
Sporting Champion Jenny Copnall, four times British National Champion mountain biker, supported by Abbie Thorrington, British National Junior Triathlon Champion in 2006 inspired children and their parents to get on their bikes
Impact: an impressive total of 150 children and their parents attended the Cycle Essex event, which was promoted live on local radio by Jenny and Abbie. During the event the Sporting Champions mingled with the crowd before Jenny set off on a 15-mile cycle ride with the families taking part. Participants came away with a new enthusiasm for cycling the Essex countryside and a determination to complete eight more routes provided by Cycle Essex.
View Pedal Power
Mix and Match
Event: The Urban Games, a free multi-sports event in the London Borough of Hounslow for children aged 8 to 15.
Sporting Champion: Maggie Alphonsi, star of the England women’s rugby union team and International Rugby Board Women’s Rugby Player of the Year 2006.
Impact: Around 300 young people listened to an uplifting opening talk by Maggie before taking part in taster sessions in different sporting activities. Maggie gave the event a massive boost by spending the afternoon talking with the youngsters, joining in activities and providing rugby coaching. If levels of enthusiasm and enjoyment are anything to go by, increased participation is assured.
View Mix and Match
Leading from the Front
Event: A Step into Sport conference for 100 student volunteers in Northumberland
Sporting Champion: Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, winner of 11 Paralympic gold medals.
Impact: Tanni brings the same commitment and determination to volunteering as she did to competition. She spent time talking to the young people about her career as a sportswoman and why she believes it is important to ‘put something back into sport if you’ve got something out of it’. Inspired to pursue volunteering in sport, many of the young people at the event have gone on to achieve Youth Sport Trust awards for leadership in the community.
View Leading from the Front.
Inspiring and Motivating a Group of Gifted and Talented Boys
Event: A Superstars Challenge for young boxers, organised by the Greater Manchester Federation of Clubs for Young People.
Sporting Champion Courtney Fry's experiences made him the ideal mentor for these gifted and talented boys from deprived areas of Manchester.
Impact: as this was an elite event that only involved a small group, Courtney was able to take on a mentoring role. Having watched and joined in with the competition, he chatted informally to the young boxers, sharing his own experience and passion for the sport. The boys are now training with new enthusiasm and are keen to get involved in other events organised by the Federation locally and nationally.
Download Boxing Clever
Encouraging children with disabilities to take part in Community Sport
Event: a multi-sports and activities week for children with disabilities and their siblings, organised by the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust.
Spending time with Steve Daley, captain of England’s partially-sighted football team, raised the aspirations of a group of young people with disabilities.
Impact: 30 children with disabilities and their siblings listened to Steve, sharing his passion for and commitment to sport. They then took part in a morning’s football coaching session under his guidance, at the end of which all vowed to remain part of a club and to take part in every coaching session.
Download Aiming High
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