London 2012 hits Cardiff’s Millennium
Current Welsh sprinters Iwan Thomas – an Olympic silver medal holder – Dwayne Chambers and Tim Benjamin joined Games legends Lynn Davies (long jump), Robert Morgan (High Diving) and Steve Brace (Marathon) travelling on a traditional London bus before greeting school children for a sports day at Wales’ national stadium and the greatest Olympian of them all predicted that Welsh medal winners for London 2012 would be present in his eager audience.
Davies, still the current British record holder with 8.23m (Since 1968) and a Gold medallist at Tokyo 1964 who also participated in both Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972, told young onlookers he expected to see them in Olympic vests come 2012.
“Today is a really special day and one that you should all remember in years to come,” said Davies.
“We have created a great sporting atmosphere in one of the greatest sporting stadiums in the world and we are all looking forward to seeing those of you who make it in your chosen sports, alongside the likes of Dwayne Chambers and Time Benjamin, at London 2012.”
Nigel Howells, the Cardiff Council Executive Member for Sport Culture and Leisure joined the days proceedings and was responsible for ensuring every school in Cardiff had children representing them at the event.
“Cardiff embraces the Olympic ethos and we intend to ‘Be a Part of It’ to the full come 2012,” said Councillor Howells.
“The Sport Village we will have, with the Millennium Stadium at the heart, will be comparable to any city in the world and further enhance Cardiff’s reputation as regional centre of sporting excellence.
“We have a strong sporting ethos in Cardiff, highlighted strong sporting infrastructure including Cardiff City football club, the Blues rugby side, Glamorgan County Cricket and great venues like the Welsh Institute of sport and one of the World’s greatest sporting citadels in the Millennium Stadium.
“This event today has been the pinnacle of year long program to involve children in sport and we truly hope child’s aspirations can be met.
“Our intention is that the legacy of 2012 will have a lasting affect on Cardiff and we want to show London how ready we are to ‘be part of it’.”
Millennium Stadium chief executive Paul Sergeant added: “We are used to massive, world-wide events being staged at the Millennium Stadium, but it is genuinely humbling to think we are going to be a part of the London 2012 Olympic games.
“We know we have a lot to offer and we are have been here to support the London 2012 Olympic bid from the start, but it’s days like today when you see the amount of school children here, ready to be inspired by their Olympic heroes that help you realise the true impact this event will have on Cardiff, London and Great Britain.”
