Olympic star to open games

OLYMPIC gold medallist Nicola White

OLDHAM'S Olympic Gold medallist Nicola White will be inspiring youngsters to greater heights when she opens the Greater Manchester School Games tomorrow.

About 2,000 school pupils are set to take part after qualifying through success in their local area events.

There will be 15 sports on show, including Lacrosse, Boccia and Athletics, taking part across 11 venues, including Sport City, the National Basketball Performance Centre and National Cycling Centre.

Oldham schools taking part include Mills Hill, St Paul's, Hathershaw, Christ Church, Newman College, Crompton House, Broadfield, Higher Failsworth, Delph, Friezland and New Bridge.

Students from Radclyffe School and Oldham Sixth Form College will also be volunteering to help.

The athletes will experience an opening ceremony with Nicola, before heading to their competitions where they will be inspired by athletes like Gymnastics Star Beth Tweddle, Elite Boccia Player Dan Wain, Handball Olympian Holly Lam-Moores and Water Polo Olympian Hazel Musgrove, amongst other entertainment.

Nicola began playing hockey aged 7 and started her club career at Saddleworth Hockey Club before taking part in the youth games herself.

She made her senior international debut for England in June 2009 and was selected for the London 2012 Olympic squad where GB won bronze before going onto victory in Rio four years later.

Nicola said: "Events like these are so important in their sporting journey. I know first-hand how taking part in events like the School Games can inspire and motivate young athletes to achieve their potential."

Yvonne Harrison, CEO of GreaterSport, said: "We have schools from across the 10 districts of Greater Manchester coming together, making the Greater Manchester Winter School Games one of the largest in the country.

"We are delighted to welcome Nicola, Beth, Dan, Holly and Hazel to the event alongside our competitors and volunteers."