Going for Gold! Tokyo Olympic Games are inspiring youngsters in Derbyshire to take up sport

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 11 August 2021

A BUSINESS which runs sports clubs for children in Derbyshire says it is having its busiest summer as youngsters look to emulate their Olympic heroes in Tokyo.

 

Progressive Sports Derbyshire, Chesterfield and Nottingham currently deliver sessions to almost 50 schools in the area and, according to director Adam Holland, there has been a huge increase in interest in Olympic Sports such as athletics, archery and fencing at their sold-out sessions.

He said:

“Team GB have had a fantastic Games in Tokyo, with an impressive haul of medals, and this young generation of athletes are inspiring children around the world.

“There are several athletes, too, who are from Derbyshire – swimmers Abbie Wood and Mollie Renshaw and hurdler Jess Turner – and we have seen the inclusion of sports such as skateboarding in Tokyo where some of the athletes taking part in this are still at school.

“The likes of Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova, the 16-year-old twins who have done superbly in the gymnastics, are great role models for our children.

“It’s fantastic to see and this successful Olympic Games has meant that our holiday clubs have been extremely busy. Places at our October half-term camps are filling up fast, too. It is good to see so many young people wanting to get active.”

Adam has stressed the importance of sport and PE in schools as children prepare to begin a new school year – hopefully without covid restrictions in place – next month.

“Physical activity – and we deliver sessions to youngsters between the ages of four and 13 with sports such as Futsal, cricket, dance, gymnastics and even Glow in the Dark dodgeball – helps increase social skills and wellbeing, which has been affected during the pandemic,” he said.

“The Government recently announced funding for schools in the UK – including right here in Derby and Derbyshire – to help deliver sessions. Each primary school will receive some of the £320m which has been set aside and I can’t stress just how important it is that schools use this cash on physical activity.

“PE has moved on so much in the past few years and there is much more awareness of the positive effect that taking part in activity has on children; sport can help with general wellbeing, communication and anger management.

“As long as that activity is engaging and varied, plus as inclusive as possible – and our coaches are fully trained to deliver this – then it is of great benefit to everyone involved.

“Children’s health – both physical and mental – has never been more important.”

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