Redgrave and Coe sign climate symbol - The Evesham Observer

Redgrave and Coe sign climate symbol

Evesham Editorial 8th May, 2014 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

TWO OF Britain’s biggest sporting ambassadors have become the latest names to sign up to a Vale campaign which aims to tackle the issue of climate change.

Five-times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave and Lord Sebastian Coe have taken the time to put their signatures forward for the Paddle of Life scheme devised by Fladbury resident and former Olympic coach David Train.

In 2009 Mr Train, from Fladbury, set up the Paddles for Life campaign which sees paddles made, signed and passed around the world to show people’s commitment to deal with the climate change problem.

Sir Steve Redgrave is regarded as one of the country’s most successful sportsmen having won five gold medals in rowing for consecutive years from 1984 to 2000.




And during an illustrious career, Lord Coe won four Olympic medals and was the man behind London’s successful staging of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Mr Train said: “To have Sir Steve Redgrave and Seb Coe signing up is great news and once again shows the importance of getting the whole world to see what can be done with this idea.”


With the campaign now in its fifth year, Mr Train now wants to see it reach the very top of the world scale and get the leaders of China and America involved in his ideas to tackle climate change.

Following the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, the Paddle of Life founder has targeted Russia and president Vladimir Putin who, with his close links to Asia, could help encourage China’s president Xi Jinping to be part of the project and sign a paddle.

Mr Train also expressed his delight after he received a response following a letter he wrote to Mr Putin asking if he would consider presenting a paddle to the China President.

A written response from the Russian Embassy said: “Our Embassy highly appreciates your ideas and supposes that they will

truly contribute to an improvement of relations between Russia and the West.

“We would like to ensure you that your requests are currently under consideration.”

Mr Train added: “This is a huge step in the right direction. I am delighted the Russian Embassy have responded so quickly and

will consider the Paddle of Life idea.”

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