Lewis on hand as Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week enters day four

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

DENISE Lewis sprinkled her Olympic gold-medal winning stardust on day four of Lloyds TSB's National School Sport Week in Birmingham.

GET SET, GO: Olympic champion Denise Lewis was in Birmingham for day four of Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week 

West Bromwich-born Lewis witnessed over 700 schoolchildren from all across the Second City trying their hand at a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports at The Ackers Centre. 

Lewis claimed her heptathlon gold in Sydney eleven years ago but her medal wasn't the only shiny item on show with the London 2012 Olympic Torch also on site. 

The event in Birmingham is one of a host of activities that have taken in a busy week which, after Friday's final day, will have seen four million youngsters participating from across Britain.

Those figures make Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week Britain's biggest school sport event and Lewis - mother of three herself - couldn't have been more pleased to give her backing to the scheme. 

"Schools are where all sport starts for children, it is absolutely vital and it was great to see all the kids trying new sports," said Lewis.

"It was just a great opportunity for young people to get involved in Olympic and Paralympic sports and to focus on themselves and try to get a personal best.

"2012 is around the corner and yes we will be focusing on our elite athletes next year but National School Sport Week is a fantastic event and just as important in focusing on the youngsters now and getting them involved in sport."

Organiser of the sport-filled event in Birmingham was Golden Hillock Partnership Development Manager Anna Delargy - and she believes the sight of the torch will live long in the children's memories.

"Every child got the chance to see the torch, which I think was fantastic, as it helped to raise their aspirations as they tried out new Olympic and Paralympic sports," she said.

Young leaders from across the city's schools helped the children with their introduction to new sports and Aniqah Ahsan, 17, enjoyed the experience.

"It's been really good," said the Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College pupil.  "There has been a lot going on and it's been really fun seeing the kids trying all the activities."

And ten-year-old Adnaan Salem, a pupil at English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, said: "I really enjoyed it. I tried bike riding and archery and that was good fun. I liked the bike riding best."

Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week uses the power of London 2012 to inspire children to try Olympic and Paralympic sports.  Your local school could carry the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay or win tickets to London 2012 at: www.lloydstsb.com/nationalschoolsportweek