Find out more about ‘Join in’, Durham Council’s new Olympic campaign…
Join in…. what’s first up?
Week 1 – 30 January – 5 February
Launch of Walk Durham in 2012
A competition will run throughout February for local people to submit interesting and quirky sporting facts / history about their local area. These will feed into the sporting themed walks which will be developed and launched at a walking festival in May ‘Get Walking for the Games’. There is also a call out for route development volunteers. The project organisers are looking for 25 keen individuals to train to develop these walks. Find out how to enter at www.durham.gov.uk/joinin
What is ‘Join in…’?
This London 2012 Inspire marked programme will see activities take place in schools, sports clubs, cultural and sporting facilities and in some of the county’s finest outdoor settings. The campaign involves many of our partners and will have the assistance of dedicated volunteers. The idea is to encourage as many people as possible to, quite simply, ‘Join in…’!
As well as the main programme, Durham County Council has also been awarded Inspire marks for the following programmes – all of which will feature as part of the overall ‘Join in…’ programme:
Club Durham
A scheme to support sports clubs to grow and extend participation.
Volunteer Durham
Providing new opportunities for people to become sport volunteers.
Sportsability Durham
A countywide programme of sport and physical activities for disabled adults, children and young people.
Walk Durham in 2012
A partnership programme in conjunction with The Ramblers to produce 25 sporting themed walks across the county with distances of 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m.
International Youth Games
Leading up to the Olympic Torch Relay, Durham will host the International Youth Games which features athletics, swimming, fencing, indoor rowing and gymnastics. Ten countries will be represented from as far afield as Jordan and the USA.
Find out more More information about activities and events will be available from 30 January.
In the meantime, you can register for a regular news update about ‘Join in…’ and details of the Olympic Torch Relay and its visit to Durham. Register at www.durham.gov.uk/joinin
More on weeks 2, 3 and 4
Week 2 – 6 February – 12 February
Opening a new legacy gym at Bearpark – the county’s 11th. The gyms operate in local community venues and are run by a dedicated volunteering force. By 2013, the aim is to open a further five legacy gyms across the county. This week will also focus on Wellness on Wheels (WOW), the county’s unique mobile fitness trailer and on change4life type health messages.
Week 3 – 13 February – 19 February
Sportsability Durham
Focus on our new countywide sportsability programme. The success of disability sport clubs such as Active Adults in Durham and Spennymoor’s junior sportsability sessions has prompted the council to provide the same type of clubs across the county. There are now four junior and five adult clubs. The week will culminate with a free junior sportsability festival on Friday 17 February at Freeman’s Quay.
Week 4 – 20 February – 26 February
Basketball
Durham’s newest team to perform on the national stage, the Durham Wildcats who play in the BBL, the UK’s premier basketball league, will lead a series of community sessions in Durham and Newton Aycliffe. The week will culminate in a live televised home game from Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre on Sunday 26 February.
About the Inspire programme: The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. It is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the London 2012 Games – a broad participation programme spanning sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering, and business opportunities as well as culture.
New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in.
To date there are just over 150 inspire mark projects across the North East.
A few final applications still to be considered by LOCOG will make the final total around 175.