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Islington Tribune - by DAVID WOODE
Published: 29 August 2008

Wheelchair basketball players get set for action at Elthorne Park

It’s roll on 2012 as sports event marks start of countdown to London olympics

OLYMPIC fever swept through Islington on Sunday when Elthorne Park hosted a sports taster day to celebrate the handover for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Youngsters aged between 8 and 16 were encouraged to participate in a range of mini-competitions, ranging from basketball and athletics to football and wheelchair basketball.
At 2.30pm, an Olympic flag was raised by the Mayor, in unison with the exact moment when London became the official Olympic Games host city.
Islington Council also launched a new initiative, called New Heights, which details how they intend to cement the legacy of the Olympic Games by developing sports facilities and creating cultural and employment opportunities.
Olympic Officer for Islington Council John Thorne said he was “very pleased” with Sunday’s event
He added: “More than 100 people turned up to show their support, with many young people trying different sports. Having raised the flag, the plan now is for it to sit above Islington town hall until the end of September.”
Councillor Ruth Polling, Executive Member for Leisure and Equalities, said she envisages the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as not only being a great sporting event but also contributing to a more healthy and active borough.
She said: “We want to see more young people taking part in physical and cultural activities and more young people in education or training.”
More than 400 local councils arranged similar flag-raising events to mark the countdown to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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