Welcome to the start of term!
Welcome to the start of term! We hope that you have had an enjoyable summer holiday and are raring to go for the next academic year!
The good news is that the government and sports governing bodies have made progress over the summer with their proposals to return to sport. So, you should be able to start playing sport at your school very soon. Your teachers will know what is possible and when. Competitions may still be a little way off as we must be careful with the number of people at venues mixing, but as soon as we can safely get back to sport, we will do!
But first, we wanted you to meet the IAPS team. There are just two of us who organise over 160 competitions across 23 sports every year for your schools to take part in. Meet Fran (right) & Emily (left), in their matching netball hoodies at the Netball World Cup last year in Liverpool!
Fun fact file:
Name: Fran Hide
Occupation: Sports Event Manager
What do you love about your job: The variety of each day. No two days are the same. One minute we are organising a badminton tournament for 30 children, the next we are taking 350 children to Italy on a ski trip, the next minute we are welcoming 3000 spectators to the London Aquatics Centre for the National Swimming Finals. The job is fast paced and varied which keeps me on my toes!
Favourite IAPS event to organise: Apart from the Skiing because I get to go to Italy, the Swimming Finals! It is just a fantastic day with 1500 children swimming their hearts out, all cheered on by 3000 spectators in the same waters that Michaels Phelps and Rebecca Adlington swam in at the London 2021 Olympics.
Favourite Sport: Netball
Favourite sportsman/woman: Serena Williams – what a woman and role model!
Do you play a sport? Yes, netball.
If so, do you play for a club/country/country: Knighton Netball Club, Leicester
Favourite colour: Purple
Favourite food: Pizza – I wish I could eat it every day!
Favourite celebrity: David Beckham – my partner was very jealous when I met him!
Dream Job: Professional Tennis player!
Do you have any pets: No but I would love a dog! Although I am a secret Mrs Hinch and so I’m not sure I could handle muddy paw prints on my carpet!
Next holiday destination on your bucket list: Sri Lanka! We hoped to go there for our honeymoon this year but had to cancel due to Coronavirus! We hope to go next year instead after our wedding!
What was the best bit about lockdown? Daily exercise with Joe Wicks followed by trying out lots of new recipes. I was allowed to eat lots after burning lots of calories right?!!
What you are looking forward to most in 2020-2021: Getting back out to our events and seeing children having fun with their friends and competing in their favourite sports.
Interesting fact about yourself: I took a year out at 18 and went travelling for 9 months around the world! I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone (when it is safe to do so) to see new places and experience new cultures!
Name: Emily Connell
Occupation: Sport Events Coordinator
What do you love about your job: There are too many great things about my job to only choose one thing.
At IAPS Sport we are constantly growing and evolving our programme, which keeps me on my toes! Our desire to keep developing what we offer you means my job allows me to be really creative.
I also really love seeing competitors enjoying themselves and cheering on others – there is a great community spirit at our events!
Favourite IAPS event to organise: It has to be the swimming finals. I started in this role the first year we hosted the finals at the London Aquatics Centre and that was a wow moment for me! With 3000 spectators and over 1500 competitors coming together for one almighty day of swimming - it’s just such a great experience.
Favourite Sport: I really enjoy watching the hockey matches at our events. The skills the competitors have at such a young age is enviable!
My favourite professional sports to watch are athletics and rugby.
Favourite sportsman/woman: Tanni Grey Thompson. Her achievements are really amazing!
Do you play a sport? I play netball once a week at a ‘Back to netball’ group.
Favourite colour: Good old navy blue
Favourite food: Potato in every shape and variety! To this day I very proudly hold my family record for eating the most number of roast potatoes on Christmas day.
Do you have any pets: Yes, I have 1 cat and two dogs (a springer spaniel and a cocker spaniel). I spend a lot of time very muddy!
Next holiday destination on your bucket list: New Zealand. I am hoping to go this December to see my sister. Fingers crossed I get to go!
What was the best bit about lockdown? Baking! I do not enjoy cooking but during lockdown I have found a love for baking focaccia and pitta bread.
What you are looking forward to most in 2020-2021: We had really exciting plans for the programme, so I hope we get to enjoy some of those next year.
Interesting fact about yourself: I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Kelly Holmes.
I met them all before they won their Olympic gold medals. I like to think I was their lucky charm 😉
