Olympian hosts masterclass for North East hopefuls

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Olympic silver medallist, Gail Emms was joined by young Badminton players from the North East today to promote the Sainsbury’s UK School Games and give aspiring young UK School Games competitors an opportunity to further develop their game.

Emms, who won a silver medal for badminton with partner Nathan Robertson in the 2004 Athens Olympics, was first picked to play for England at the age of 18 and is keen to pass on her experience in the build up to the 2010 Sainsbury’s UK School Games which takes place in the region from 2 – 5 September in venues across Gateshead, Newcastle and Sunderland.

The event was hosted at the newly renovated Gateshead Leisure Centre and Emms was glad to be able to pass on some of her vast knowledge.

“I am delighted to be in the North East England today helping to promote the Sainsbury’s UK School Games and I hope sessions like today leave a lasting legacy in the area. I have always admired the North East for its enthusiasm towards sport and I really enjoyed meeting these young players today. Hopefully they have learnt something from me and will compete in the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in the near future.

“The Sainsbury’s UK School Games provide excellent practice for what may lie ahead for some of the competitors whether it is in the strength of competition, being in an athlete’s village or just getting on with your teammates. It will help their learning curve enormously as they look to grow in their sport.”

Also in attendance were former UK School Games competitor Holly Smith who is from Sunderland, former Development Coach at Badminton England Mike Woodward and four employees from title sponsor Sainsbury’s.  All four instore colleagues were selected due to their passion for the sport.

Emma Saunders, Commercial Manager at Sainsbury’s Alnwick, who is a qualified badminton coach said: “What a fantastic opportunity this was for myself and my colleagues to have badminton coaching from Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms and Mike Woodward from Badminton England.  I’m proud to work for a company that is passionate about encouraging young people to be healthy and active and by supporting the 2010 UK School Games we’re really showing our commitment to this agenda.”  

Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Councillor Linda Green said:

“Gateshead continues to reinforce its status as European City of Sport 2010 by providing a fantastic platform for the development of sports by holding events such as the Sainsbury’s UK School Games North East England 2010. We are not only helping to nurture future talent but, with the presence of Olympian’s such as Gail Emms, providing inspiration for residents to get active and healthy - a central aim of Gateshead Council.”

Over 1,600 elite school aged athletes will descend upon North East England in early September.  Cycling will join athletics, badminton, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, swimming, table tennis and volleyball, with disability events in swimming, athletics and table tennis, including learning disability for swimming, table tennis and for the first time, athletics. 

In 2006 The UK School Games received a £6 million grant from Legacy Trust UK. As an event which fully encompasses sport, education and culture, the UK School Games was one of Legacy Trust UK’s first projects.  In addition to the Legacy Trust UK, the UK School Games has a consortium of North East partners who will assist with the staging of the games.  These include Gateshead, Newcastle and Sunderland Councils, NewcastleGateshead Initiative along with One North East who are providing funding support and Northumbria and Newcastle Universities who are supplying sport facilities and accommodation.