Young Reporter - Festival of Sport
By Georgia Benns
Festival of Sport is a fun filled, action packed weekend with incredible sporting activities run by some of the best sporting legends in their fields. If you are a sport fanatic, much like me, what is not to love! It’s a great opportunity to try new sports that you may not have had the opportunity to take part in before and make new friends as you are put into squads and provided with a full sporting timetable with a group your own age.
Even the grown-ups can get involved! My Mum did a somersault on a trampoline which she hadn't done since she was 10, although she did have a little bit of help from Amanda Parker (World Synchronised Champion Trampolinist).
I didn’t think I’d ever get to see Austin Healey playing Hockey, likewise my Dad always talks a great game, but I actually realised that he can also play really well too! We all cheered from the sidelines seeing sporting legends and grown-ups getting really stuck into the mini Hockey Tournament. Likewise, some of the parents lived out their childhood dreams by playing touch rugby with the array of Rugby Legends!
As a keen Hockey player I was so excited to meet Alex Danson, little did I know that I’d also be giving: Rugby, Tennis, Rowing, Football, Cricket, Athletics, Boxing, Trampolining, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Dodgeball and Golf a go. I enjoyed Golf so much that I went back for a second time and have had a few trial lessons since! It doesn’t matter at all that you've never tried sports before as everything is really accessible and open to all. Yes, I have played Rugby, Cricket, Dodgeball and Tennis but whether you are an expert or beginner you are all learning together and trying new things. In football for example we learned skills and tricks, rather than playing a match and in tennis we were trying to hit the balls into holes in a huge inflatable, so you most definitely did not need to be the next Emma Radacanu!
After working hard in the sports activities and building up an appetite, there were definitely some great choices to refuel! So many different food options for every meal from different cultures too.
Inspiration did not just come from sporting legends but also the charity partners: Blue Light Group was setup during the first Lockdown to get emergency services workers together to cycle which I learned was great for their mental health during the pandemic. At The Matt Hampson Foundation we met Sophie, she completely lives by their motto ‘Get Busy Living’ and after hearing the story of her accident, how she was supported by the charity, her positive attitude has sometimes made me keep going when I am having a bad day trying to achieve something and so it could absolutely motivate many young sports people. I had a good go at the ski machine at their tent but couldn’t get anywhere near the leaderboard topped by Mike Tindall!
It’s not just the sport. We also got to enjoy brilliant, unexpected moments for example: Austin Healey dressed as ‘Welford’ the Leicester Tigers Rugby Team mascot having a boxing match with Rachel Mackenzie (GB international boxer). Us kids formed the ring for the match. It’s so hard to put into words how great the weekend was at the Festival of Sport 2021, and I hope to see you there in 2022 (we’re already booked!)
Thank you to our Young Reporter Georgia for this fantastic article.
