Seb Coe's Olympics boost - VIDEO
HE came, he saw ... and he was mightily impressed.
Seb Coe, Sheffield's first track superstar, returned to his roots to meet and greet athletes, officials and schoolchildren who have been inspired by the London 2012 Olympics.
The former Olympic gold medallist and world record holder, now chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, featured in a whirlwind tour of the city which included visits to the English Institute of Sport, his former school, Tapton and Ponds Forge.
Lord Coe certainly feels Sheffield and particularly the EIS, has a significant part to play in the build up to this country's biggest sporting occasion since the 1966 World Cup.
"The evidence is here before you," said Coe in relation to the EIS' role to 2012. "I was involved in the discussions for this Centre of Excellence back in the 1990s and what impresses me most is the way it continues to develop.
"Great Britain's boxers and volleyball and table tennis players are all based here and the real draw is that an athlete of the stature of Jessica Ennis is seen here, participating and training - that's the biggest boost of all for children throughout South Yorkshire.
"The EIS is a serious role model for the rest of the country.
"When countries are looking for holding camps for their athletes in preparation for the Olympics, they look at four things ...
"Quality of venue ...
"Quality of coaches ...
"The quality of people who use the facilities such as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in waiting (a small plug for Jess!) ...
"And finally teams want to come to a place that understands sport and that's what Sheffield does, as I well remember. The city passes the test on all four counts.
"You are made to feel welcome and there's no reason why Sheffield can't play an important part over the next three years."
Seb met up again with current golden girl Jessica Ennis, as he unveiled the EIS' Wall of Champions, a corridor of photographs featuring world heptathlon gold medallist Jess, Olympic boxer James DeGale, sailor Paul Goodison, synchronised diver Leon Taylor and bobsleigh world champion Nicola Minichiello. More will follow.
He, of course, knows all about pressure and great expectations but feels that level-headed Jess 'has the ability to inspire a whole generation.'
"We're all hoping she will deliver a great performance at the Games.
"People, however, should remember that the heptathlon is one, if not the hardest event, for any woman athlete. A multi-eventer's work is never done ... you go from training on the track, to throwing a javelin or shot to hurdles and high jump.
"It's endless but there's no question that Jess has the ability and all-round talent to succeed.
"She's very level-headed and in the right environment as Sheffield understands and takes pride in its sport. They give people such as Jess space and allow them to get on with their lives without too much interuption."
During his visit to the EIS Seb presented an Inspire mark certificate - part of the 2012 initiative - to Tapton pupil Holly Hodgkinson, from the Sheffield Academy of Young Leaders in Sport.
He also mingled with around 150 Primary School children from Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley and started a number of races in the athletics hall; watched a Tae Kwando session run by Doncaster Olympian Sarah Stevenson and her coach Gary Sykes and a table tennis exhibition involving potential Olympic medal hopeful, Paul Drinkhall from Rotherham and Paralympian Sue Gilroy.
Seb also saw a demonstration of running and wheelchair basketball involving children from Bradfield, Fir Vale and Seven Hill schools and met Paralympian Colin Price from the Steelers Wheelchair Basketball Club. He even tried his hand at shooting and scored two out of three baskets.
His final call was the GB boxing hall where he met the new Performance Director Ron McCracken and a number of the boxers who have set their sights on Olympic glory.
Jessica, who has targeted the World Indoor Championships next March, said: "The last time I saw Seb I was on the podium and he was presenting me with a gold medal. He's achieved so much in his career and he's an inspiration to many athletes.
"I hope I can achieve something like that in the future."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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