If you’ve ever thought about trying out a new sport but weren’t sure how to get started, this latest scheme is for you.
Active People, Active Park (Apap) is offering visitors to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park the chance to try their hand at more than 20 new sports ranging from athletics and hockey to rowing and even Nordic walking over the next three years.
All Newham residents will have the chance to try out some of the activities for free, with the programme remaining “affordable and accessible”, according to a spokesman – though prices are yet to be determined.
The programme will launch more activities as part of the Festival of Sport on Sunday, June 8, when the Commonwealth Games Baton will travel around the park in the build up to the international sporting event in Glasgow this summer.
Ex boxer Barry McGuigan will kick off the festival at 9.30am with local school children and athletes.
The Apap scheme has already been endorsed by Olympic and Paralympic Ambassador Lord Sebastian Coe, who said: “Initiatives like this can help us achieve our long-term vision for a fitter nation.”
Parklife went along to try out some of the sports open to residents, including table tennis and volleyball.
Despite wet and blustery conditions, learning the basics of these two Olympic sports was an eye-opener into how accessible and fun they really are.
It didn’t hurt that offering coaching advice for the day was former Olympic British indoor volleyball player Rachel Laybourne.
After explaining the basics of the “spike” and “dig” moves, she said volleyball could be whatever players wanted it to be.
“It’s fast if you want it to be fast, it’s slow if you want it to be slow. It caters for all kind of abilities and ages and if you aren’t able-bodied there’s sitting volleyball.
“It’s a very tactical game but it’s also just about having a great time with your mates.”
Slightly trickier – thanks in no small part to the wind - was getting to grips with a barrage of table tennis balls being fired from a ball machine at the other end of an outdoor table tennis table.
On hand to demonstrate the proper technique for a pin-point accurate forehand and backhand was Development Officer Tom Browne.
He said he hoped to create a local community club for the sport, adding people enjoyed it because it was something “pretty much everyone can play”.
“It doesn’t matter what size or shape or ability you are,” he said. “It’s a game that everyone finds a lot of fun.”
Visit queenelizabeth olympicpark.co.uk for more information about the Active People, Active Park programme.
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