Accesss Sport - transforming lives through sport

Tuesday 3^rd August 2010, saw the Access Sport ‘SportsJAM’ take place at Mile End Stadium, supported by the Lloyds Community Programme. 15 sports were showcased and tried out by local children, with the aim of driving long term involvement in community sport. Access Sport Ambassadors, Olympic Medallist Gail Emms and England and Arsenal Ladies football star Rachel Yankey were on hand to encourage young people from Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham to try new sports and introduce them to local community sports clubs. Over 1000 local children were given the chance to play a variety of new sports from football and rugby to skateboarding, boxing, parkour and street dance.

Gail Emms said “If I didn’t have a local club I wouldn’t have been able to go to the Olympics! There are opportunities out there for children and they need to be made aware of them. Access Sport is showing the kids where these opportunities are, with events like ‘SportsJAM’, and gives them that chance.”

‘SportsJAM’ collaborated with the Tower Hamlets schools competition “Neighbourhood Games” taking to help develop the link between school and community sport. SportsJAM aim to help inspire young people to try new sports and become regularly involved and engaged, ensuring that grass roots sports is supported throughout the local community. This is a particularly important factor within the Olympic Boroughs to help create an Olympic legacy and through ‘SportsJAM’ Access Sport has been able to demonstrate 90% average growth at the their partner community sports clubs.

“SportsJAM is not just one day of excitement – it’s about inspiring young people and adults to be involved longer term. We also want young people and parents to learn about what is on offer locally and to go to the club sessions to help build healthy communities in these areas.” Rachel Yankey

The next Access Sport event will be ‘BikeJAM in the parks’ on Saturday 18^th September. ‘BikeJAM’ Is set to be an opportunity for youngsters to get involved in cycling. They will have the chance to meet the cycling stars and teams from the Tour of Britain, watch the Tour final prize presentation, see amazing demonstrations of skill and daring, and have a go themselves.

For more information about SportsJAM and BikeJAM please visit www.accesssport.org.uk