Post Olympics Join In Sports Weekend

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Mary Macleod urges local sports clubs to sign up

Local MP Mary Macleod has called on sports clubs to sign up for a new project designed to get hundreds of thousands of people across the UK to join in local sport.

The ‘Join In Weekend’ has been established to encourage people inspired by the London 2012 Olympic Games to turn up, take part and join in at their local sports clubs on 18th/19 th August – the first weekend between the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The project has the backing of the Chair of London 2012, Seb Coe, who said: “We are really happy to support the ‘Join In’ project. It is a great idea that means that thousands of people across the UK can turn up and take part in local sports just after the Olympic Games finishes.

“Millions will be inspired by what they witness over the summer and I hope this creates opportunities in every community for people to join in their local sports clubs.”

Sport clubs across the UK are hoping that London 2012 will generate unprecedented enthusiasm for sport in the UK. The ‘Join In Weekend’ will capture that enthusiasm and bring it back to the place it begins for all great champions – their local sports clubs.

The ‘Join In Local Sport’ website, www.joininuk.org, provides a place for clubs to register and advertise their events and for people to check what’s going on near them.

Mary said: “Every great champion started at their local sports club. I want to make sure our local centres make the most of the once in a lifetime opportunity the games provides.

“The ‘Join In Weekend’ is a great platform to harness the enthusiasm of London 2012 and get the whole local community engaged. Several local sports clubs have already signed up at www.joininuk.org including Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, the Brentford Boating Arch and Osterley Sports & Athletics Centre and I hope that more will do so soon.”

‘Join In Local Sport’ is a not for profit company, initially funded by government grant.

Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society at the Cabinet Office , said: “We are delighted to support the ‘Join In Weekend’. We believe that it is a great opportunity to tap into the Olympic spirit and inspire lots of people to get involved with their local sports clubs.”

August 1, 2012