Welsh medal winners Matt Richards and Lauren Williams will be hot-footing it to Better Cardiff Leisure Centres on Saturday, fresh from their Olympic success in Tokyo. They will join the I am Team GB’s Festival of Sport events being run by several Better venues across the city over the week-end. There will be free activities to participate in as well as official I Am Team GB giveaways and athlete appearances from retired athletes, celebrated cyclist Ed Clancy and five-times British champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist, gymnast Laura Halford.
On the Saturday, Eastern Leisure Centre will be welcoming Matt Richards (Team GB, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Swimming Relay Gold Medallist) to coincide with free swimming taster sessions at the centre in Llanrumney as well as an adult fit swim session at 12.00pm.
At 12.30pm, Western Leisure Centre will be welcoming Lauren Williams (Team GB, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Taekwondo Silver Medallist),as a Taekwondo club run by Nicola Turecek, a former world champion, puts on a display.
Maindy Leisure Centre meanwhile will be delivering a large scale event in collaboration with Welsh Cycling to create a Festival of Cycling which will kick-off at 1.30pm and run to 3.30pm on the Saturday. Cycling coaching and other activities will be available for all ages and abilities and the opportunity to cycle on the Velodrome. Sessions at Maindy before and after this cycling festival, including Aqua Aerobics, Zumba Taster Sessions, Yoga & Meditation and swimming lessons.
Swim Wales national elite coach Graham Wardell will deliver a stroke analysis session as part of the Academy Master class session at Maindy between 1.30pm and 2.45pm on the Sunday with Ed Clancy one of Team GB’s most decorated Olympians with four games medals visiting at 1pm.
Rhys Jones, Head of Service Better Cardiff, said:
“We have just seen what an impact the Olympics has in terms of generating interest, enthusiasm and participation in sport. It’s vital that we take advantage of this excitement and interest. We have organised a fantastic range of events with numerous partners so that local communities across Cardiff can come together, get moving and enjoy the summer weekend.
“We are very lucky to be able to welcome two Team GB Heroes back to Wales after their fantastic achievements in their sport. It will be a great opportunity for young people to meet them and be inspired ahead of their official welcome home.”
