South Bromsgrove students to be part of Olympics ceremony

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STUDENTS from South Bromsgrove High School will be at the heart of the curtain raiser to the London 2012 Olympic games, it was revealed this week.

Pupils from the Charford Road school will be among the 2,000 strong Guard of Honour to welcome athletes from around the world through the Olympic Park into the Olympic Stadium during the ceremony on July 27.

South Bromsgrove will be one of just 250 schools from across the UK to be represented during the prestigious ceremony which will kick-off 16 days of competition.

The lucky youngsters will be holding lanterns and banners they have created to support one of the 204 competing nations and the 10,500 athletes taking part.

The athletes’ parade will see the participating teams enter the stadium nation by nation and in alphabetical order, apart from the Greek team, which will arrive first to mark the country’s status at the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Team GB will enter the stadium last as host nation of the 2012 games.

As well as having the opportunity to cheer on the world’s best athletes, the pupils will also get the chance to tour the Olympic Park and see some of the London 2012 venues before the eyes of the world focus on the opening ceremony later that day.

South Bromsgrove High School was selected through the reward and recognition programme of the Get Set network, the official London 2012 education programme

The students are already learning about the cultures and athletes of the Monaco team as part of their celebrations for London 2012 World Sport Day - that takes place on June 25.

Headteacher Paul Topping, said: “I am delighted our students and staff are playing a key role in the guard of honour.

“It will be a fitting tribute to all who have been involved in events leading up to the Olympics and complements the social, moral, spiritual and cultural aspects of our curriculum in school.

“As a teacher and a student have already fulfilled their roles as torchbearers within the county, we are particularly pleased that students will be able to join in the excitement in London itself,” he added.

LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) chairman, Lord Coe, said: “The presence of so many young people at the start of the Olympic Games opening ceremony will continue to show London 2012’s commitment to put young people at the heart of the games.”

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