There are well over 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports, but how many can you honestly say you’ve tried?  Well, in the last month I’ve given fencing, goalball, boccia, taekwondo, handball and volleyball a go and I’ve had an absolutely brilliant time. 

I’ve been a bit outside of my usual comfort zone of a badminton court and, if I’m honest, I wasn’t particularly good at some of them, but that’s the beauty of sport - you don’t always have to be great at it to enjoy it.

In my role as an Ambassador for the Youth Sport Trust I’ve been visiting schools recently and trying my hand at new sports in support of Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week. 

The week takes place this month and is encouraging young people to try a new Olympic or Paralympic sport. Thirteen thousand schools across the country are expected to take part in the week involving around  four million children - it really will be a time to celebrate all that is good about sport.

I’ve already heard about some of the activities that schools have planned which will be motivating and inspiring young people. 

Some are holding opening and closing ceremonies and organising torch relays, others are planning inter and intra school competitions. All are living out the Olympic and Paralympic values. The range of sports that’s going to be on offer for young people is incredible.

New research shows that London 2012 excitement is already spreading amongst Britain’s school children despite the Games still being over two years away. Eight out of ten youngsters surveyed are excited about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with six out of ten inspired to take part in more sport. Nearly nine out of ten school children are keen to try a new Olympic and Paralympic sport. That’s great news and shows why it’s so important for schools to give youngsters the chance to experience new sports during Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week.



I’ve always believed in the positive impact that sport can have on children. Alongside the obvious health benefits, it builds self confidence and self esteem, it develops social and personal skills and it can develop team work. These skills are so important for young people, not only on the sports field, but also in the classroom and in life once they leave school. 

Badminton was my sport of choice, but given the opportunity I would have loved to have tried a lot more sports when I was younger.  As for those I’ve given a go over the last few weeks - I’m not sure you’ll be seeing me competing in taekwondo anytime soon – I don’t think I’d cut it at the top level, but I’m a bit of a dab hand at fencing so watch this space for a possible Olympics comeback!

Gail Emms is an Olympic silver medallist and an Ambassador for the Youth Sport Trust, who is delivering National School Sport Week in partnership with Lloyds TSB. It will run from June 28 to July 2 in England and Wales with the Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, in partnership with SportScotland, taking place for the first time between June 7-11.  All primary and secondary schools can register at http://www.schoolsportweek.org/. Registered schools will receive a free teacher planning and activity pack, full of ideas to help plan their week and ensure the whole school can get involved.