Gold Challenge, a new programme encouraging mass sports participation and charity fund raising, was launched yesterday, giving everyone the chance to be part of the London 2012 sporting legacy.
Konnie Huq and Gold Challenge founder, Dan Thompson, joined a host of Team GB Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, leading charities, National Sports Governing Bodies and Hugh Robertson MP, the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, to launch this key pillar of the official mass participation legacy for London 2012.
The programme gives everyone the chance to challenge themselves in multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports. The idea is for participants to take on five, 10, 20 or 30 Olympic or Paralympic sports – and raise money for charity.
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Founder Dan Thompson said: “My vision for Gold Challenge is twofold; to inspire people of every age and physical ability to play sport, and raise significant sums of money for charity.
“By harnessing the growing excitement around London 2012, we are in a unique position to deliver these two objectives. We are privileged to be working alongside some very high profile partners and with their support, I am confident that the Gold Challenge will be an outstanding success and a truly UK wide project.”
Gold Challenge is supported by the British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB and Sport England, and is a call for people who are looking to challenge themselves as an individual, part of a team or as part of a corporate programme.
It is hoped that £20m can be raised by the end of 2012 with over 100,000 people anticipated to take part, reaping the benefits both personally and for their chosen charity.
Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, said: “We want to ensure that people have as much opportunity as possible to get involved in sport, and Gold Challenge will help do exactly that.
“This is an important part of our ‘Places People Play’ legacy plan, which will deliver on the bid pledge to use London 2012 to get more people playing sport.”
Jennie Price, Chief Executive Sport England, added: “Gold Challenge is the chance for people across the country to be part of the mass participation legacy. There’s nothing quite like the challenge of raising money for charity to get people off the sofa and onto the pitch, track, sports hall or into the pool.
“Add the inspiration of London 2012 and you have an incredible way to really boost sports participation. Sport England is working with Gold Challenge because we want everyone to play more sport.”
Participants can personalise their Gold Challenge on www.goldchallenge.org, decide which sports to take on, whether to take part as an individual or team or even as a business. They can also choose which charity they want to help raise money for from one of over 100 charity partners.
The Gold Challenge website provides a helping hand by offering key information guides on the different sports and also a ‘Gold Challenge Tracker’ onto which participants will upload their progress and success and benchmark performance.
Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
