Golden chance for Olympic pupils

EXCITED . . . (from left) Alex Dawson, Jessica Bird, Michael Doyle, Mica Cartwright, Katie Hewitt and Danielle Wardle Picture: DARREN ROBINSON

SADDLEWORTH School pupils have struck gold with a trip-of-a-lifetime to next month’s Beijing Olympics.

Eight Year 10 classmates from the specialist language college where pupils learn Mandarin are flying out to China and Hong Kong for the Games.

Highlights of the trip will include meeting quadruple gold medal rower Sir Matthew Pinsent.

Jessica Bird, Mica Cartwright, Alex Dawson, Michael Doyle, Katie Hewitt, Will Nye, Thailay Roscoe, and Danielle Wardle will also visit the Great Wall of China Alex, Jessica and Danielle will even report from the event for Children’s BBC. And Chronicle readers will be able to follow their travels with a diary of their adventures.

The pupils will be in Beijing from August 6 to 15 before flying on to Hong Kong, where the equestrian events are being held, from August 15 to 17.

Excited Katie said: “I can’t wait to go — my family are so jealous!

“I know basic Mandarin but Michael and Jess know a lot so they will be helping to translate.”

The visit is part of the Towards the Olympics Project which involves specialist schools from across the UK. Students taking part are members of the school’s China club.

They will stay at language schools and will be accompanied by cross curriculum co-ordinator Kath Findlay and head of ICT Ceri Davies.

Michael is looking forward to seeing the Great Wall, adding: “I was quite surprised when I found out we had the opportunity to go.”