Olympic spirit wins the day

SADDLEWORTH Olympics finally got under way this weekend — but with a restricted itinerary.

The flooded condition of Churchill Playing Fields at Greenfield put paid to the scheduled start a week ago.

But finally this weekend, the Olympics managed to swing into action albeit on a limited basis.

The athletics events had already been cancelled because the running track was rutted and flooded, along with the opening ceremony. But since hopes were high among 1,200 Saddleworth youngsters of competing, a reduced timetable swung into action.

There was basketball taking place, netball proceeded but was reduced to a penalty shoot-out and the rugby was called off.

It was still a will-they, won’t-they, story around the Saddleworth villages, from where young competitors are drawn.

Bulletins were placed in shops and post offices around Saddleworth advising competitors of the latest state of play.

Olympic committee chairman Ben Hilton has said: “Not having the athletics was a massive disappointment.

“But we were aiming to get as many of these children involved in the rounders as possible.

“If the track had been in better condition, we might have tried to go ahead with the athletics, but it simply wasn’t fit.”