07.03.2006
SCHOOLS FLY THE COMMONWEALTH FLAG
When the Sports Council for Wales set the challenge to three Welsh primary schools and three Melbourne primary schools to produce a picture that depicts the Commonwealth Games, the responses followed thick and fast. While the Welsh public will undoubtedly be roaring for the duration of the Games, the team could find themselves oblivious to the buzz.
With one winner from each school rewarded with their very own artwork printed on the reverse of the flags to be carried by athletes at the curtain raiser that is the opening ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, much was at stake for pupils from the six schools.
As part of Melbournes adopt a second team programme, Team Wales will be bolstered by the support of three Victorian boroughs; Goldenplainshire, Geelong and Bayside. With the aim of educating and uniting through sport, three Welsh schools were twinned with a school from each borough and challenged to produce a poster.
Pupils from the Welsh schools had something of an advantage in the sporting ideas department. Recruited to the Sports Councils Dragon Sport scheme which aims to get more primary school children involved in extra-curricular sport the schools have been working at broadening the sporting interests and imagination of our children. Not just having an impact in the gym hall or sports field, teachers have been enthusing and encouraging pupils during class time, with the posters evidence of their efforts.
Keeping the imagination flowing, pupils had free reign to produce a poster to sum up the Games experience; guided with the Melbourne slogan United by the Moment. Featuring everything from mascots, sporting events and many world in union images, the sporting showdown conjured up a mixture of images in the budding artisans minds.
Six pupils were rewarded for their creative flair and their interpretation of the Games now adorn the flags the Welsh athletes will proudly wave as they step into the Melbourne Cricket Ground at the opening ceremony of the XVIII Commonwealth Games (15-26 March).
Boarding the Melbourne bound plane in just five days time Martyn Lewis and Matthew Hughes today took time out from training to announce one of the winners at Palmerston Primary School, Barry. The badminton doubles duo today presented eight-year-old Cerys with her winning flag design, which will be in their grasp in front of an estimated global television audience of one billion eight days from now.
Fielding questions a hoard of enthusiastic pupils, the Commonwealth hopefuls built up the buzz of the event and spoke of their pride at pulling on the red vest and playing for the principality.
The twosome will be looking to continue Wales winning ways on the court following team success at the Manchester and Kuala Lumpur Games. Having achieved a top eight seeding, they join a six-strong team eager to make it a spectacular for Welsh supporters.
And having guaranteed themselves some 230 extra viewers from the Barry school, the badminton clan will be eager not to disappoint their supporters when they take to the courts down under come March 16th.
Background
Competition Winners
BAYSIDE
Beumaris North Primary School, Victoria
Georgia and Emma (joint winners)
Twinned with:-
Beaumaris Primary School, Anglesey
Matthew
GOLDENPLAINSHIRE
Bannockburn Primary School, Victoria
Katrina (age ten)
Twinned with:-
Palmerston Primary School, Vale of Glamorgan
Cerys (age eight)
GEELONG
Clifton Springs Primary School, Victoria
Karlee (age 9)
Twinned with:-
Clun Primary School, Neath Port Talbot
Carly
For more information, please contact Laura Mahoney at the Sports Council for Wales on 029 2033 8274 or laura.mahoney@scw.co.uk
