Pupils Stride Out To Celebrate The Commonwealth Games

School pupils across the borough have been striding out this week as part of a baton relay to celebrate the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The event, which has been organised by the Tameside School Sports Partnership, and supported by the Running Bee Foundation, officially started last Friday morning at Great Academy Ashton.

Nominated students have been chosen to run with a baton, alongside a teacher, to another participating school. The relay then continues from school to school over an eight-day period, and is scheduled to finish at Rayner Stephens High School, Dukinfield, on Monday. 

The event, which also took place last June to coincide with National School Sports Week, has been organised to promote a healthy, active and happy lifestyle.

As well as celebrating the Commonwealth Games, the relay, which has 55 schools signed up to it, is highlighting the work being done by the Running Bee Foundation and the Believe and Achieve Trust.

The Foundation’s events, which include the iconic Tour of Tameside, aim to champion health and wellbeing, promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and focus on reducing childhood obesity.

As part of its work with the relay, the Foundation has supplied each school with a commemorative baton.

Emma Toone, School Games Organiser at the Tameside School Sports Partnership, believes the event will further demonstrate the borough’s commitment to encouraging health and fitness.

Speaking to Reporter Sport, Emma said: “It’s been great to see so many pupils enthused about the relay and wanting to support it - even from the sidelines.

“The event did really well last year and given the importance of the Commonwealth Games, along with the Tour of Tameside, it made sense to do it again.

“We want schools to connect with each other and this is one of the best ways we can do it, in a fun and safe environment.

“One school gave a guard of honour for the runners, and we even started today’s (Tuesday’s) event with the Rocky theme tune playing.

“We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and given how excited the pupils have been, it will go down as a key event in the school calendar.” 

The 2022 Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that will run from 28 July to 8 August.

Birmingham was announced as host on 21 December 2017, marking England’s third time hosting the Commonwealth Games after London 1934 and Manchester 2002.