Bath set to celebrate International Olympic Day
Olympic badminton player Hadia Hosny El Said will officially start the 2012 Olympic Day Run at the University of Bath on Saturday (23 June) – one of the main activities at Team Bath’s Gold Rush open day.
23 June is celebrated around the world as International Olympic Day, when people show their support for the ideals and values of the Olympic movement.
Olympic Day Run has taken place at the University of Bath for more than a decade. This year’s run is the only official Olympic Day Run being held on International Olympic Day in the country.
The run is one of the highlights of the Gold Rush Open Day, when people have the opportunity to try out a wide range of fun sporting activities at the Sports Training Village.
The run is open to all and free to enter, and gets underway at 1pm. Everyone who takes part receives a free T-shirt to run in.
There’s a 5k course for adults and a 3k course for the under-16s. You can enrol on the day between 11.30am and 12.45pm or in advance by downloading a form from the Team Bath website at : Olympic Day Run 2012 and returning it or bringing it along on Saturday.
Hadia will get hundreds of runners of all shapes and sizes under starter’s orders at the Sports Training Village. The Egyptian badminton player, who is a student at the University of Bath, made her Olympic debut in Beijing four years ago and has already been selected to represent her country again at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
“We’re delighted that Hadia, one of our Olympians, has agreed to start this year’s Olympic Day Run at the University of Bath,” said Greg Sharp, Team Bath’s Sports Development Manager.
“The run has become a regular fixture on the sporting calendar at the University of Bath and is particularly exciting given the proximity of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
On Friday Hadia will also start the Olympic Day Run taking place at Sheldon School in Chippenham.
Hadia and her coach, Pete Bush, will also be dishing out some handy hints to people at badminton taster sessions at the Gold Rush Open Day, along with another Bath-based player, Chris Hotchen.
The sessions are just one element of the Gold Rush Open Day, which runs from 12 midday through to 4pm on Saturday 23 June.
Other activities on offer on the day include the chance for over-18s to have a go on the bobsleigh push start track try a fitness class or the gym, swim in the 50m pool or attend tennis coaching sessions, as well as judo and trampolining sessions.
There is also the chance to watch Team Bath’s Superleague netball team tackle the Netball Talent League team at 1.45pm. There will be a trampolining display at midday and a rhythmic gymnastics display at 3pm.
All activities on the day are free, but some times may be subject to change. For further details please go to: Gold Rush Open Day
Please note, we anticipate photographers may be taking photos at the Olympic Day Run in Bath.
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518 or by email at press@matchtight.co.uk
You can also find out more about Team Bath at www.teambath.com, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teambath or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/teambath
The University of Bath is The Sunday Times University of the Year 2011/12.
