Olympian inspiration for Meteor children at Teesside

London’s 2012 Olympics will be the inspiration for young visitors to Teesside University’s Meteor Summer School.

The annual Meteor event is aimed at primary school pupils from across from across the Tees Valley. Meteor was first launched in 1999 to inspire local primary pupils to think about further and higher education, through activities on and off campus.

This year’s Summer School has an Olympics theme, with activities including designing and making clothing for the games, along with mascots and medals and a mini Olympic stadium and village structure.

Students from the University’s Elite Athlete Scheme will lead the young visitors through motivational exercises and give inspirational talks.

The Elite Athlete Scheme, open to high calibre athletes studying at Teesside, offers support through access to state of the art equipment and expertise. Potential Olympians aiming towards 2012 and 2016 are among the current Elite Athletes.

Teesside University has been awarded the Inspire mark, awarded through the London 2012 Inspire programme, which recognises organisations delivering projects and events genuinely inspired by the 2012 Games.

Only the most accessible, participative, inspiring and stimulating projects and events will achieve the Inspire mark, which is part of the London 2012 brand.

Middlesbrough is set to be one of the key stops on the Olympic Flame’s journey around the UK in the build-up to the London Olympic Games. The stop-off in Middlesbrough in June next year is part of the traditional Torch Relay which starts in Greece and culminates in the opening of the games in July 2012.

Joe Bulmer, of the University’s Schools & Colleges (Pre-16) team, said: 'As well as helping to set the scene for London 2012, the Meteor Summer School also opens up the children to potential future careers and study opportunities at Teesside University.'

Taking part in the Meteor Summer School event will be children who are making the transition from primary school to Thornaby and Freeborough Academies, of which Teesside University is the lead sponsor to both. They will be joined by other primary school children from across Darlington, Middlesbrough and Billingham.

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