Celebrating five years to the Games
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Hundreds of people pulled on their trainers to be part of Medway's celebrations marking five years until the start of the London Olympic Games. Crowds of runners and walkers gathered on the fields of the Black Lion Leisure Centre on Friday, 27 July to complete the inaugural Medway Mile at 7.30pm, the exact time the opening ceremony will begin in London in 2012. The activities kicked off with a series of demonstrations and have-a-go activities to showcase some of the sporting opportunities on offer in Medway. Milers could tackle a mini assault course laid on by the Army or try their hand at baton twirling, ice hockey, cheerleading, Middle Eastern Dance or static cycling and rowing provided by the Echoes and SHOKK gyms. |
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There were also demonstrations from the Army's Taekwondo team, Rainham Judo Club and Kyushinryu Ju Jitsu, Distinction Twirlers and First Impressions baton twirlers, Medway Cheerleading and Dance Academy, Middle Eastern dancers and the Invicta Dynamos.
Some of Medway's finest middle distance runners then contested the first ever Medway Mile elite race organised by Medway and Maidstone AC and sponsored by the University of Kent at Medway.
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The massed crowds were led through an aerobic warm up to get them ready for the start of the mile, which was heralded by a specially-choreographed cheerleading routine and the release of 2,012 balloons in the colours of the five Olympic rings. Medway's two international sporting ambassadors - javelin legend Steve Backley and Paralympian Danny Crates - joined runners of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities to complete the one mile course. |
Also on the start line were Chatham and Aylesford MP Jonathan Shaw (pictured below left), Medway Council Chief Executive Neil Davies, Medway Council's Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Cllr Howard Doe and 1964 Olympic silver medallist, Paul Nihill, who ran the mile with his family.
First home was a Ghurkha based at the Brompton Barracks (pictured below right), fresh from his Taewkondo demonstration and sporting a painted lion's face. Behind him followed families with pushchairs, toddlers, milers on crutches, a squad of soldiers running with kit on their backs, people with dogs and even two girls who completed the mile three-legged.
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Every participant went away with a souvenir Medway Mile t-shirt in one of the five Olympic ring colours, sponsored by Total Floor Systems.
Medway 2012 manager Bob Dimond said: "Thanks to everyone who completed the mile - most of whom were considerably faster than me. To have so many people taking part shows just how enthusiastic the residents of Medway are about the Games coming to this country.
"We look forward to seeing you and hundreds more people at next year's Medway Mile on 27 July 2008."
The Medway Mile was organised by Medway Council's 2012 team and co-funded by the Medway Primary Care Trust.
A full gallery of images from the day is available at www.theimageworks.net. To view the Medway Mile gallery enter the code 1BJ4VF in the login box at the bottom of the screen.
The five year countdown celebrations also included an Olympic Sports Taster Day for kids which gave local children the chance to try seven Olympic sports under the watchful eye of local coaches.
A list of everyone present who made the Medway Mile a success
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