SCHOOLCHILDREN from across Worcestershire will be treated to a special guest appearance from Olympic bronze medallist Chloe Rogers at this year’s Level Three Winter School Games.
Worcestershire’s Level Three Winter School Games, organised by Sports Partnership Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Worcestershire School Games, are set to take place on Tuesday, March 1 at the University of Worcester and will see more than 800 children participate in a day of sport.
The children – ranging in age from seven to 19 – will go head-to-head in their own mini-Olympics, battling it out in seven different sports.
Rogers, who was part of the Great Britain women’s hockey team which won bronze at the London 2012 Olympics, will be on hand to meet and chat to the youngsters taking part about her experiences of becoming an elite athlete.
Rogers has enjoyed an illustrious international hockey career, having made her senior international debut for the England women’s national field hockey team in November 2003 against Japan.
She holds a World Cup bronze, Champions Trophy silver and bronze, two Commonwealth Games bronze medals as well as European Championship bronzes and she is also one of the leading indoor hockey players in the UK.
The visit from Rogers at the Games will help harness the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics to inspire young people to be the best they can be.
Rogers, 30, who retired from international hockey in 2014, said: “I’m delighted I am able to attend the Worcestershire School Games.
“Events such as these are essential to give children the chance to get a taste of what it is like to compete in a multi-sport environment such as the Olympics.
“Hopefully I can share some of my experiences from sport and inspire potential sports stars of the future.”
Stephen Brewster, Director of the Sports Partnership for Herefordshire & Worcestershire, said: “We are really looking forward to Chloe joining us at the Worcestershire Winter School Games next month.
“Her presence will really add to the occasion and hopefully motivate and inspire our young people to take part in more competitive school sport.
“Celebrating sport, competition and teamwork are at the heart of the festival, as is continuing the Olympic legacy of encouraging young people to be the best they can and having an athlete of Chloe’s calibre will be very inspirational for the young people taking part.”
Level Three Games sees counties stage multi-sport School Games festivals as a culmination of year-round school sport competition.