Paralympic hero and double Gold Medallist, Peter Norfolk, has teamed up in front of Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court with children from Wimbledon’s Playing for Success (PfS) Centre as part of a national balloon launch to mark the launch of Pass it On, the PfS 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games national legacy programme.
Wimbledon’s PfS Centre’s first value is Paralympic Heroes, so it was fitting that Peter, Great Britain’s most successful wheelchair tennis player, was at the All England Club to take part in the balloon launch and afterwards talk to the children and answer questions about his career.
Norfolk said: “I am delighted to be helping to launch Pass it On. The values required by top Paralympic and Olympic athletes are just as applicable to ordinary life. I hope the children will be as excited as I am about the 2012 Olympics and will derive a lasting legacy from taking part in Pass it On. It promises to be fun and leave a lasting positive impression.”
Timed to follow closely on the heels of the recent 1000-day marker to the 2012 Olympic Games, Pass it On is a relay of resources where each resource or ‘baton’ represents nine Olympic and Paralympic Values, together with Olympic and Paralympics Heroes’ themes, which will be passed to the nine regions over nine terms in the three-year run up to the 2012 Games.
Regions |
Term 1 (Aut 09) |
Term 2 (Spri 10) |
Term 3 (Sum 10) |
| North East |
Friendship |
Courage |
Determination |
| North West |
Courage |
Determination |
Excellence |
| Yorkshire |
Determination |
Excellence |
Equality |
| East Midlands |
Excellence |
Equality |
Respect |
| West Midlands |
Equality |
Respect |
Inspiration |
| East of England |
Respect |
Inspiration |
Olympic Heroes |
| South East |
Inspiration |
Olympic Heroes |
Paralympics Heroes |
| South West |
Olympic Heroes |
Paralympics Heroes |
Friendship |
| London |
Paralympics Heroes |
Friendship |
Courage |
Aiming to engage all PfS centres in activities around the Games through a national competition and a resource exchange, Pass it On is a unique opportunity for PfS centres to use the Olympics and Paralympics as a key resource to raise standards. The scheme has been awarded the INSPIRE mark.
Organiser Katy Hamlin, Wimbledon Playing for Success Centre Manager, said: “Pass it On is a great way for the children to share in the excitement of the forthcoming 2012 Olympics and to learn about the values and qualities that the Olympics and Paralympics represent. Meeting a real-life Paralympic hero in Peter Norfolk and being able to hold his Olympic Gold Medals was hugely inspiring for them.”
Article by Johnny Perkins