Paralympic star keeps kids on right track
A PARALYMPIC star put some sports-mad youngsters through their paces ahead of the ninth Great CityGames later this month.
Jonnie Peacock, who has won gold in the T44 100m sprint in two consecutive Paralympics, met ten young athletes from North Ridge Specialist School in Blackley, and Melland High Specialist School in Gorton, to put them through their paces ahead of the popular event – and talk to them about what it takes to become a champion.
The games sees a corner of the city transformed into an arena for street athletics, which has involved some of the world’s biggest names in the previous eight years.
Around 20,000 people are expected to line the streets for this year’s event, which will see the track re-positioned to a new spot on Deansgate between Peter Street and Great Birdgewater Street.
Starting at 6pm on Friday, May 26, they will kick-off a packed weekend of sport with the Great Manchester Run, the new accompanying half marathon and the junior and mini Manchester runs following on Sunday, May 28.
Speaking at the launch, Jonnie said: “It’s great to be able to meet these kids and hear about their plans and ambitions in sport.
“The Arcadis Great CityGames Manchester is a fantastic way to introduce people of any age to athletics. Unlike a traditional stadium event, the races happen in quick succession and the crowd gets much closer to the action.”
Manchester council’s executive member for culture and leisure, Coun Luthfur Rahman, said: “The free Arcadis Great CityGames Manchester has become a real fixture in the city’s packed sporting events calendar and we can’t wait to host elite athletics on the city centre’s streets once more. “Jonnie’s work with local young people is a great example of how worldclass sporting events such as this help to inspire the next generation of Mancunians to fulfil their own sporting potential.” UK Superbrand Arcadis has become title sponsors of the event and even have an athlete of their own participating. England international pole vaulter and Arcadis employee, Rachel Gibbens, will be taking to the runway on the evening, competing to win gold on the city streets. For more information, visit greatcitygames.org/Manchester. Jonnie Peacock