National School Sport Week: Thousands compete in biggest school event

NATIONAL SCHOOL SPORT WEEK: In connection with the Olympic torch event, 1,950 Scottish schools – a 75 per cent uptake – are taking part in this week’s Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week.

The event got under way last Friday, when 750 school pupils took part in their own Olympic sport themed event at Toryglen Regional Centre in Glasgow.

The pupils had the chance to try a variety of sports including athletics, rowing, basketball and football before the London 2012 Olympic Flame made a special appearance at the centre for a special show arranged to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay’s arrival in Glasgow.

Scotland’s Katherine Grainger, the three-time Olympic silver medallist and Bank of Scotland Ambassador for London 2012, carried the Olympic Flame into Toryglen.

“It was an honour to carry the London 2012 Olympic Flame in my home town of Glasgow,” said the rower, who was named in Team GB last week and will be aiming for gold in London.

“I was so excited to bring the Flame to the pupils of Glasgow but the reception I received when I arrived at Toryglen was incredible.”

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week, delivered in partnership with sportscotland – the national agency for sport – through the Active Schools Network, marks Scotland’s biggest school sporting event.

It is a week-long celebration which will see schools staging their very own Games involving Olympic and Paralympic sports, opening and closing ceremonies and inter-school competitions.