Emma Groundwater will be a torchbearer carrying the flame through London
A local netball coach has been selected as a torchbearer for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Active Ealing coach, Emma Groundwater, 18, will be one of 18 young torchbearers carrying the flame through London on Sunday, 6 April.
There will be a total of 80 torchbearers, including celebrities and athletes such as classical violinist Vanessa Mae, England cricketer Kevin Pietersen and Dame Kelly Holmes.
Emma, who coaches adults and youngsters at Ealing Council’s Twyford and Elthorne Sports Centres, supported her nomination with a written statement about why she thought she should be selected. The Olympic organisers then contacted her to confirm her place in the torch relay. Emma was chosen because of her voluntary work as well as being a junior sports leader.
She said, “I feel very proud to have been selected, it’s a real honour. I do a lot of voluntary work in the community and I’m proud to be representing both young people and volunteers by carrying the torch.”
Paul Hyman, who heads up the Council’s sports services, said, “Emma deserves the recognition, she works hard and is a great coach. We are all delighted that she’s been chosen. With coaches like Emma we may even have representation in some of the events at the 2012 Olympics.”
The torch will travel across 22 cities and five continents before ending in Beijing for the start of the Olympics in 2008.
March 28, 2008