Goldie Sayers stars at inspirational awards night for Olympic hopefuls

UK javelin record holder Goldie Sayers will be the guest star when Olympic hopefuls from South Norfolk join young sports stars from across the district for the annual South Norfolk Community Sport Achiever Awards.

The Awards ceremony on Tuesday 11 March at the De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel will involve 56 youngsters aged between 9 and 18, their parents and friends.

Among the 56 are some South Norfolk youngsters already on Olympic training programmes for London 2012.

Goldie Sayers will be presenting cheques, certificates and goodie bags at the event, which is fast becoming a fixture in the county sports calendar.

Her medals will be on display, and she will give an inspirational address, urging all the young South Norfolk stars to have confidence and belief.

Master of Ceremonies for the night will be David Webster of BBC Radio Norfolk, a big supporter of local sport who last year introduced the winners at the Norfolk Youth Games.

Chris Perks, regional director of Sport England East will give a speech, backing the awards and reminding South Norfolk and the eastern region of its huge importance as preparations begin for 2012.

Councillor Michael Windridge, South Norfolk Cabinet Member for Tourism, Heritage, Enterprise and Culture said:

“This has been a terrific week for sport in South Norfolk, with the news that venues like the Whitlingham Centre has a real chance of becoming an Olympic training venue.

“Next week we will get to meet some of our Olympic hopeful at this fantastic awards night. I am delighted we are able to help them, and our other young sports stars, to improve and progress."

The 56 winners will be using the funding awards to help pay for the costs of competing or performing, to achieving coaching qualifications or paying for equipment.

And what makes these awards extra special is the commitment they carry with them - each winner pledges to be a sports ambassador, and to inspire other young people. The Awards night ambassadors are already hugely successful county, regional and national team players and they represent 36 different sports including archery, swimming, skateboarding, windsurfing, ski-ing, cricket and women’s football.

Every winner had to have a strong and positive references from their individual sports' recognised bodies.

The County winners will receive £175, regional winners £285 and national winners £400.

The awards idea grew out of an initiative to set up a Community Sports Network, which is backed by Sport England and Active Norfolk.

That network is now up and running, has over 40 representatives on it, and is eagerly awaiting news on an application for funding from Sport England.

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