Photo: xelcise @ flickr

Sports enthusiasts in East London are to benefit from a major new development project that will see eight new cricket grounds being built on Hackney Marshes.

The facilities, which are set to open next summer, will include seven artificial cricket pitches and three fine turf squares.

They form part of a significant investment scheme by Hackney Council, but have been made possible by a grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The authority’s plans will improve cricket facilities as part of a longer list of sports available at the Marshes, including rugby and seasonal athletics.

The area is perhaps best known for its 73 full-size football pitches – the highest concentration of such facilities in Europe.

A new Hackney Marshes Centre will also be built, providing changing rooms, refreshment areas and classrooms.

The new grounds will also benefit from improved transport connections, with a new bridge planned between South and East Marsh, and the reopening of North Marsh’s Cow Bridge.

Guy Nicholson, a Cabinet Member at Hackney Council, said: “This is a key part of the Council’s investment programme which is using the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as an opportunity to give our residents world-class sports facilities alongside the new venues being built at the Olympic Park.”

“Next summer there will be five artificial cricket pitches available for cricket enthusiasts on North Marsh, and by summer 2012, the additional three fine turf squares will be in use, bringing the total up to eight for use during the cricket season.”

“With the building of changing rooms and a pavilion nearby, this really will become the home of cricket in East London.”

Bruce Cruse, of the England and Wales Cricket Board, added: “The ECB is pleased to invest in this worthy project and to give a boost to grass roots facility development.”

“It has been planned to input new impetus into the playing future of the local community. I am confident that as the investment matures cricket locally will go from strength to strength.”

Olympics here we go, photo LOCOG

East London celebrated two years until the start of the 2012 Olympics yesterday, with a number of events which allowed the outside world the first close look at the Olympic Park.

Schoolchildren from Hackney and Tower Hamlets among others joined athletes, past and present and celebrities for a tour of the site before joining four-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson for a race on a temporary 60m track inside the partially completed stadium.

Hackney primaries: St John and Jerusalem, Whitmore, and Colverstone were all represented by excited pupils  as was  the London Marathon Playing for Success Centre in Bethnal Green.

“It’s so awesome how LOCOG actually cares about kids,” said Aaron Lewis, 9, from the Tower Hamlets.

Elsewhere on the 2.5km square site, cycling hero Sir Chris Hoy, tested the track in the velodrome in front of cheering construction workers. London mayor Boris Johnson followed, but his ride was a bit more wobbly, much to the amusement of spectators.

Lord Coe, chair of the 2012 organising committee, said this event was:  “The starting gun for people to start planning their games”. Yesterday also marked the launch of the committee’s volunteer recruitment drive, to encourage over 70,000 people to help make the games a success.

He said: “We want volunteers. Volunteers are the face of the games. I know the difference between a good games and a great games is the quality of the volunteers.”

With the Olympics still two years away, organisers hoped the day would heighten the capital’s excitement and a  BBC survey suggests that people are ready to join in with nearly one in three Londoners are more supportive of the games today than they were in 2005.

Across the internet people voiced their support. “I’m looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere with thousands of spectators at the spectacular Olympic park!” said mattjanes100 via Twitter, while Jon_East reinforced the positive vibe: “Looking forward to supporting TeamGBR with the spotlight on London.”

Lord Coe stressed the games would provide a legacy long after the event had ended.

“We have the opportunity to put economic benefit into a lot of communities through a lot of these projects. These are facilities local people will be able to use.

“We’ve designed this stadium to make sure that there is a lasting legacy. Five years ago we were standing in a scene of relative desolation, the Olympic Games has transformed that. Legacy is very important for us.”

The sport stars shared his enthusiasm. Sir Chris said: “I had goose bumps on my arm. To me now the Games are coming alive.”

He added: “You can’t stop thinking about the crowds cheering for Team GB in here in two years time, it’s important that you do because it gives you that little carrot to chase.”

Johnson, a US track-legend who has embraced Britain since becoming a BBC pundit summed up the day.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. “There is so much history behind the Olympics and people in London will get an opportunity to go to an event and say they have taken part in it. They will have that memory for the rest of their lives.”

Photo: Sport England

Don’t just watch football now you have more chances to join in. New lottery funding means that 200 more young footballers will have a chance to join Bethnal Green United Football Club.

The club is just one of the community sports projects in ELL boroughs that will benefit from thousands of pounds of new funding.

A selection of sports clubs and schemes in Bow, Lewisham and Bethnal Green have been awarded the money through Sport England, the government agency responsible for sport.

Ability Bow, will benefit from £9,350 , to help encourage those with disabilities and others who have never used a gym before to take part in their inclusive fitness sessions.

Bethnal Green United Football Club, based at Mile End stadium, has secured £9.420 to create three new teams so that 200 more young footballers can get involved at the club.

The Lewisham Young Women Resource Project (LYWRP), has been awarded £7,000 of funding to run a scheme encouraging more young women to play sports. The money will pay for coaching fees and equipment, and will also help train volunteers after funding has ended.

Manager of the LYWRP, Phillipa Wall said: “Getting funding has become harder, so we are happy to have been awarded money from Sport England”. The Catford based project called ‘Miss Sporty’ is one of the few organisations focused specifically on sport for young women. “We encourage the girls to be healthy. We focus on them maintaining exercise, monitoring fitness, combined with a healthy lifestyle. We also hope to foster a long term interest in sport.” The Miss Sporty project teaches a wide variety of programs including dance, spinning and combat training.

Sports England awards funding to grassroots and community sports projects across the country, aiming to provide everyone with an opportunity to excel at any sport.

A total of £142, 028 has been awarded to sports programmes across London, in a project that aims to get one million people playing sport as legacy of the 2012 Olympics

Sport England’s Chair, Richard Lewis said: “This investment is opening up great opportunities for local people to get involved in sport. I urge everone who’s got out of the sporting habit to take a fresh look at what’s going on in your area, and give sport another try.”

Montage from the Umbro advertisement featuring the roots of the England players. Picture: Umbro

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Photo: Havenholidays

Families can now attend free swimming sessions at weekends at any pool in Lewisham.

From this week,  family swims will be free for Lewisham Library Card holders.  Families from the borough can choose from Bridge Leisure Centre, Wavelengths Leisure Centre, Downham Health and Leisure Centre, Ladywell Leisure Centre.

Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock said: “Now that summer is here it’s a great time to take advantage of this free family swim offer.”

“Lewisham is investing in expanding and improving swimming pools within the borough. So, I hope everyone will make the most of our pools and benefit from the free swim offers that are available.”

Families wanting to swim for free must consist of at least one child (aged 16 or under) and no more than two adults. Each Lewisham swimming pool is offering free swim sessions at different times at the weekends.

Those who are 60 or over, or 16 or under,  can already swim for free in Lewisham during the weekdays and weekends at designated times.

Further details are available from Lewisham Council’s website

PHOTO: Salimfadhley

Croydon is preparing to increase police presence on the streets during this year’s World Cup. Two teams of police, with more than 30 additional officers, will patrol the streets to prevent any disorder.

The increased police presence comes as a response to incidents that occurred in the South End area in 2004, when England was eliminated by France from the European Championships. Around 100 people took to the streets and vandalised local businesses.

The 2004 riots caused injuries to 18 police officers. Ten men were arrested and collectively jailed for 22 years. Inspector Alan Goodhall said: “We will not accept glassings or people being racially abused like in 2004.”

Officers will be manning CCTV cameras and running intelligence operations across Croydon as part of an operation which has been six months in the making.

The two teams will consist of five sergeants, two inspectors, and 33 constables along with 150 riot officers on hand to respond should any sort of disorder breaks out.

Another provision made to avoid violence this year is the elimination of glasses to serve drinks at local pubs and restaurants.

Inspector Goodhall said: “We have advised pubs and clubs showing the games to serve drinks in polycarbonate glasses to stop people getting glassed. We have also advised them to have door supervisors.”

For information on where to watch the World Cup in Croydon and other ELL boroughs, check out our listings, coming up later this week.

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