YOU’VE watched them for weeks, cheered them to the finish line and welled up at their medal ceremonies.
And now the UK’s Olympic heroes are coming to a town near you.
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With their medals still heavy on their necks from the Rio games, Team GB are keen to spread their love of sport with the rest of the country.
So on Saturday the nation will hold its biggest ever sports day, with more than 2,400 venues throwing open their doors for FREE taster sessions.
And this time many of the medallists will be there to cheer YOU on as part of the National Lottery-backed “I Am Team GB” initiative.
IMAGE: Getty Images
In a landmark move, ITV will be turning off all seven of its channels for an hour on Saturday from 9.30am as an even better incentive to get off the sofa and get active.
Even Coronation Street is getting in on the act, with the set’s cobbles hosting shuttlecock matches throughout the day.
Sporty soap fans can also take part in running and cycling races down Emmerdale village’s Main Street.
Medallists freshly back from Brazil and turning up at events to help inspire others will include double gold-winning gymnast Max Whitlock.
He knows just how much local sports’ clubs offerings can transform peoples’ lives, having got his own start aged seven in his Herts hometown.
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Max, 23, explained: “I first started gymnastics in Hemel Hempstead at Sapphire School of Gymnastics, and knowing how friendly and life-changing clubs like this can be, I’d encourage everyone to get involved in I Am Team GB.”
A huge range of experiences will be hosted at sports centres, clubs, parks and other venues ranging from fun runs and horse-riding to dance lessons.
Team GB hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh, who steered her women’s team to gold in Rio, also hopes Saturdays’ events encourage people inspired by the Olympics to have a go themselves.
The 36-year-old said: “As a group of athletes, whether medallists or not, I think Team GB have given people an opportunity to see sports they have maybe never seen before.
IMAGE: News Group Newspapers Ltd
IMAGE: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“There was such breadth of sports we were involved in over in Rio. 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 to 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.”
Kate also reckons it is important that parents let their children try lots of different sports so they choose one they like, rather than pushing them into a particular activity.
That is how she got her own start as a very young child.
Kate recalled: “I did dance and gym and swam a lot. Then at school I just played every sport I possibly could — netball, rounders, athletics, tennis.
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“I was OK at some of them and absolutely dreadful at others, but it does not stop you from having a go.
“There is something for everyone out there and it is just a matter of finding that something you really enjoy, first and foremost.
“Then, if you are good at it that is almost secondary.”
And Kate said the opportunity for the public to speak to returning Olympic heroes would make Saturday’s I Am Team GB sports day “an amazing event”.
IMAGE: Getty Images
IMAGE: Getty Images
Much of the Olympics’ success was down to the funding of athletes from more than £80million raised each year by National Lottery players.
So to celebrate Team GB’s record haul of 67 medals, Lotto will create an extra 67 life-changing prizes this Saturday, with 27 prizes of £1million to match our 27 gold medals.
There will also be 23 extra prizes of £100,000, to equal our tally of silver medals, and 17 extra prizes of £50,000 to mark our bronze medals.
To take part in the events all across the country on Saturday, just visit iamteamgb.com to find activities happening close to you. We have a taster opposite — along with where to meet some of your heroes.
MORE than 2,400 venues are offering free sports sessions on Saturday – head to iamteamgb.com to find all the activities available near you. Here is a taster of what’s on at 50 places.
1) Plymouth, Central Park: British Military Fitness session.
2) Wellington, Somerset, Sports centre: Fencing, squash, swimming, tennis.
3) Kingsbridge, Devon, Hope Cove: Volleyball, speed cage.
4) Salisbury, Churchill Gardens: Park run.
5) Yeovil, Chilton Grove: athletics, hockey, martial arts, table tennis, tennis, volleyball.
6) Southampton, local parks: Archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, climbing, disability athletics, disability sports, kayaking, sailing, yachting.
7) Brighton, Jubilee Square: Bowls, diving, football, gym, health and fitness, scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming, synchronised swimming, water polo.
8) Canterbury, The Pavilion: Park run
9) London, QE Olympic Park: Handball, athletics running and jumping skills test, table tennis, gymnastics, boccia, healthwise testing, fitness challenge bike and row. Or Hyde Park: Basketball, cricket, dodgeball, fitness, floorball, football, frisbee, gym, health and fitness, hockey, volleyball.
10) Reading, Thames Promenade: Rowing.
11) Bristol, Marina, Bristol Pilot Gig Club: Taster gig-rowing day.
12) Cardiff, Sports Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens: Rowing, golf, weightlifting, cycling, hockey, cricket, triathlon, gymnastics and more.
13) Llanelli, Gorslas: Park run.
14) Pontypool, Breeze to Blaenavon-Clydach Gorge: Cycling.
15) Hereford, Hereford Golf Academy: golf. Saxon Hall: Dance class.
16) Gloucester, Hartpury College: Equestrian session.
17) Swindon, Coate: Rowing taster session.
18) Oxford, City Hoops: Basketball.
19) Colchester, Culver Square: Boxing, boxercise, pad work.
20) Ipswich, Grimwade Street Goals: football.
21) Norwich, UEA Sportspark: Netball.
22) Cambridge, Gonville Place: Diving.
23) Spalding, Lincs, Albion Street: Free sport hall activities, badminton, basketball, swimming, table tennis.
24) Northampton, Sol Central: Olympic circuits, fitness class.
25) Coventry, Ricoh Arena: Netball, rugby, football, equestrian, athletics, judo, tennis, cycling, wheelchair basketball, gymnastics, climbing wall, golf, table tennis, volleyball, cricket.
26) Birmingham, New Town Row: Free Family Swimming.
27) Shrewsbury, Quarry Park: Run.
28) Liverpool, Strand Street Chavasse Park: Athletics, cycling, gymnastics, running, table tennis.
29) Crewe: Running, walking.
30) Derby, Abbey Street, Abbey Studios: Sports day, fitness taekwondo.
31) Leicester, Charter Street Arena: Sports morning, basketball, football.
32) Nottingham, Forest Recreation Ground: Timed 5km run.
33) Sheffield, Northumberland Road: Hockey.
34) Manchester, Trafford Wharf Road: Badminton, table tennis, climbing wall.
35) Leeds, Burden Head Farm: Duathlon (run-cycle-run) plus garden games.
36) York, The Racecourse: Park Run.
37) Blackpool, West Park Drive: Disability athletics, disability sports.
38) Penrith, Howtown, Ullswater: Sailing, water sports, family activities.
39) Carlisle, Sands Leisure Centre: Badminton, basketball, dodgeball, football, rugby league, table tennis.
40) Stockton-on-Tees, Barrage Way: Badminton, cricket, cycling, football, gymnastics, racketball.
41) Newcastle, Neilson Road, Gateshead Stadium: Rowing, walking football, athletics, trampolining.
42) Glasgow, National Hockey Centre: Hockey.
43) Edinburgh, Figgate Park & Portobello Park: Fun run.
44) Dundee, Baxter Park: Military fitness session.
45) Aberdeen, Beach Esplanade: Run.
46) Inverness, Bught Park: Run.
47) Enniskillen: Park Run.
48) Belfast: Park runs include events at Ormeau Embankment and Falls Rd.
49) Carrickfergus, Woodburn Road: Rugby union.
50) Londonderry, Strand Rd: Park run
FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA AT iamteamgb.com
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