By Edward Elliot
WITH little more than four months remaining until the start of the Olympics, athletes are stepping up their training as Britain prepares to host its first games since 1948.
Yet, with London staging the event, it is not only athletes who will represent the UK this year.
The London 2012 organising committee has called upon people from across Britain to help with the running of the games, including many young people.
One such youngster is 17-year-old Jake Cook, from Handsworth, Sheffield, who will take part in the Olympic torch relay as reward for his community role as a young ambassador in which he delivers sports classes to school pupils, including disabled children.
Around 90,000 people were recommended for the 8,000 positions and Jake, who has been a volunteer for three years, said he was delighted to be chosen.
“We might never see the Olympics again. I’ll be even more excited when I get the uniform,” he said.
“My family couldn’t believe it. They’ve all booked the day off work and they can’t have a conversation without mentioning it.”
The first year sports and exercise science student at Norton College was nominated for the role last May by Karen Leaver, specialism development officer for the Forge School Sport Partnership, whom he accompanies to schools and coaches alongside.
Karen said: “Jake is a very, very good sports leader and an incredible personality, but also very bright and knowledgeable about sport, and is good at inspiring others to take part.
“You can’t help but like him.”
The flame will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on May 19 and travel within ten miles of 95 per cent of the UK population before reaching the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium on Friday, July 27.
Football and boxing fan Jake, who unsuccessfully applied for tickets to attend the games on two occasions, is due to carry the torch on Tuesday, June 26.
Corey Davis, head of sport and dance at Norton College, who teaches Jake, said he was reserved and modest about his achievements and this opportunity was all down to him.
“People like Jake are fantastic role models for younger children in the community and I’m certain that he’s a fantastic role model for other sports students in college,” she said.
“We’re very lucky to have him.”
The college will celebrate the games by holding its own Olympics at the English Institute of Sport at the end of March.
Every sport student at Norton will participate in the day which will roughly follow the programme of the actual games, albeit with slightly moderated events.
Another student who will gain a close-up experience of the games is 16-year-old Helen Law.
The Tanbridge House School pupil from Horsham, West Sussex, has been chosen as a ball-girl at the Paralympics volleyball, which will be held at ExCel in London’s docklands, as reward for a school project.
Helen, who will participate along with 15 of her schoolmates, is excited at the prospect of being involved in a global event and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She said: “I think the Paralympics is an extraordinary event which encourages people with disabilities to overcome challenges and achieve their potential without discrimination.
“The Olympics not only celebrates sporting achievement, it is also about determination and respect and encourages people, especially young people, to overcome adversity and strive to achieve their potential.”
More than 80 Tanbridge pupils applied for the places and the chosen 16 were interviewed and took part in team-building activities as part of the selection process.
Headteacher Jules White said: “I am delighted that our efforts to support the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been rewarded with this fantastic opportunity.”