Passports ready '‘ let the Games begin

Borders Sport and Leisure launched their scheme aimed at encouraging children to enter into the Olympic spirit by participating in special sporting activities.
Children from all over the Borders helped Borders Sport and Leisure launch a unique childrens Olympic Passport SchemeChildren from all over the Borders helped Borders Sport and Leisure launch a unique childrens Olympic Passport Scheme
Children from all over the Borders helped Borders Sport and Leisure launch a unique childrens Olympic Passport Scheme

Children from schools across the region (St Peters (Galashiels), Walkerburn, Chirnside, Cockburnspath, Broolmands (Kelso), Parkside, (Jedburgh), Drumlanrig (Hawick) and Melrose attended the Road to Rio Olympic Passport launch event held at Queen’s Leisure Centre in Galashiels last week where they tried out a range of introductory sporting session in judo, volleyball and athletics hosted by local coaches.

Connie Ramsay, 2014 Commonwealth Games Judo bronze medallist was also in attendance to support the activities and inspire the children with the story of her journey to the Games and the importance of effort and overcoming failure.

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From January 18 a schedule of activities featuring a variety of Olympic sports will be available across the Scottish Borders with children awarded points on their passport for each session they take part in. Depending on the number of points a child accrues they could receive a bronze, silver or gold medal for their efforts.

There will be two versions of the passport scheme available, one for all P1-P3 children and another one for all P4–P7.

Ewan Jackson, Chief Executive of Borders Sport & Leisure said; “We have run two children’s sporting passport schemes before, one for the 2012 Olympics and another for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“Both resulted in primary school children participating in thousands of extra sporting sessions and were a huge success.

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“We are confident that our new Road to Rio passport will be just as popular and lead to children across the region experiencing and enjoying a host of new sporting opportunities over the coming months.”

The scheme will operate from January 18 until August 26 – the date of the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

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