Turn off, tune out, drop in for the Olympic sports day
Gold-winner Max Whitlock will switch off ITV and join Rio stars to welcome public at sporting venues
HIS double-gold glory at Rio 2016 attracted one of the biggest television audiences of the year, but today gymnast Max Whitlock will help turn off millions of sets to encourage people off their sofas.
Whitlock, whose triumphs on “Sensational Sunday” were watched by more than 10 million viewers in Britain alone, will flick the off switch for all ITV channels for one hour as part of a nationwide sports day celebrating the UK’s biggest Olympic medal haul in 108 years.
Dozens of medallists will join the public for I Am Team GB, an event which sees 2,400 venues taking part in a bid to encourage the public to become more active.
Viewers tuning in to ITV from 9.30am will be greeted with the message “we’ve gone running – why don’t you join us?” as sports clubs across the country open their doors for free tuition. Whitlock, 23, will turn off the channel after telling viewers: “OK, to get involved today just go to www.iamteamgb.com to see what’s happening near you… we’ll be back in an hour.”
It is hoped hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, will take part, cheered on by stars including Whitlock, gold-medallist rower Helen Glover, swimming silver-medallist Jazz Carlin and Charlotte Dujardin, the equestrian gold-medallist.
Whitlock, who is due to get married this year, said: “I first started gymnastics in Hemel Hempstead at Sapphire School of Gymnastics. Knowing how friendly and life- changing clubs like this can be, I’d urge everyone to get involved.”
The event, organised by the National Lottery and ITV, will see the broadcaster’s favourite soaps getting in on the act. Emmerdale will host races on its main street while badminton will take place on Coronation Street’s famous cobbles.
Kate Richardson-Walsh, the Team GB hockey captain who steered her women’s team to gold in Rio, will also be among those cheering on sporting newcomers.
The 36-year-old said: “Our team has had so many lovely messages from people who have never watched hockey before but they watched the final, they saw the penalty shuffles and they saw how exciting a game it was and how fast it was and they have gone out to have a go.
“That’s what we want people to do, but it doesn’t have to be hockey. Any sport would be good. Just go out there and do something. Be active.”
Much of the Olympics’ success was down to the funding of athletes from more than £80 million raised each year by National Lottery players.
To celebrate Team GB’s haul of 67 medals, Lotto will create an extra 67 prizes tomorrow, with 27 prizes of £1 million to match the 27 golds.