Young Ambassador
Saturday 21 November 2009
Want to take part in London 2012? The Young Ambassador initiative has got your back.
Supporting you
As part of London 2012, The Youth Sport Trust has launched the Young Ambassador campaign. The aim of the programme is to get 14-19 year olds involved in the Games with the persuasion of others their age.
Around 2,500 under 19s have searched up and down the country looking for others who want to take part. Watch the video to find out more!
What does an ambassador do?
Double Olympic gold medallist and full on supporter of the campaign James Cracknell says, “Thousands of you will have played a crucial role in taking the Games out into your communities by living the Olympic and Paralympic values and encouraging your peers to live healthier and more sustainable lifestyles. I’m proud to support it.”
Each school will choose its own ambassador. The initiative hopes to have around 10,000 ambassadors by the time the Games begin. Each ambassador will be in charge of organising their own sports festivals in and around their communities, leading school assemblies, coaching and inspiring others to do the same.
The programme has recently launched the Young Ambassador Britain campaign too. This allows each ambassador to submit photos that show the impact that their work has had - regionally, nationally and worldwide.
What’s so good about sports?
The real question is what’s not so good about sports? They can benefit you in loads of ways.
Playing a sport can make you feel positive inside and out. As well as pros like weight loss and a toned figure, practicing a sport also has some mental and emotional benefits. Sam Hooper, Young Ambassador and rugby player admits, “It’s such a social game. I’m really a much more confident person because of it.”
A lot of people see sports as a hassle and something that requires a lot of energy. However, there's a sport for every level of strength – from walking and cycling to alternative sports like yoga and extreme activities like snowboarding and BMX racing. Once you get into your stride you’ll be well on your way as well. Hannah Watts, a Young Ambassador who plays netball and football puts it simply, “It’s fun for me. It’s never a chore, ever.”
How can I get involved in sports?
There are loads of ways to get into sports. You could start from the comfort of your back garden, park or playground. Kick or throw a ball around or try running around the block for a bit. Check out our long list or sports you could play.
Once you find a sport you want to get in to then visit Sports Base to find your nearest sports club.
Taking part in professional sports can be tough but it’s completely worth it. If you want to go pro then former Great Britain triple jumper Michelle Robinson advises you to, “Train hard, train hard, train hard.”
Press play for more training tips.
