MICHAEL WATSON LIGHTS THE WAY FOR SPORTS STARS OF THE FUTURE
9 July 2004by PRESS OFFICE
The listing was posted by London Heathrow Youth Games
Former champion boxer, Michael Watson, yesterday (Thursday 8 July) lit the official flame at the opening ceremony of Europe’s largest youth sports event - the 27th BAA Heathrow London Youth Games.
The BAA Heathrow London Mini Games act as a prelude to the Finals Weekend on 10/11 July and are a scaled-down version of the main games designed specifically for primary school-aged children.
3,000 children aged between six and 11, representing all of the 33 Boroughs of London, roared Watson on as he arrived with the official flame. As an inspirational icon of British Sport, Michael received an awesome reception by the cream of London’s primary school talent during the spectacular start to the Mini Games.
The 38-year-old Londoner, who is partially paralysed, amazingly completed the 2003 London Marathon course in six days, raising millions of pounds for charity. The past year has seen him receive an MBE, the BBC's Helen Rollason Award for courage and achievement in the face of adversity, and honoured by the Variety Club of Great Britain for his "outstanding courage.”
Michael said: “I was delighted to officially declare the Mini Games open. It’s great to see so many children taking part in a variety of sports at such a young age.”
Michael joined a long line of stars that have backed the event in previous years, including athletes Linford Christie, Dean Macey, Iwan Thomas, Sally Gunnell and Kris Akabusi; footballers Trevor Brooking, Gary Mabbutt and Emlyn Hughes and cricketers Alec Stewart, Phil Tufnell and Mike Gatting.
The main event is now only a day away - 12,000 of the Capital’s best young sportsmen and women are all set to battle it out over the Finals Weekend (10 & 11 July), for individual and Borough team glory in 28 different sports for the Overall Borough Trophy currently held by Bexley, whose win last year broke Havering’s amazing six year winning streak.