London 2017 and Mayor of London launch major school initiative
Double Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock today launched the official London schools ticket offer that will see 250,000 schoolchildren across Greater London given the opportunity to attend the World Para Athletics Championships at the London Stadium this summer (14 - 23 July) at a discounted price.
Ahead of this summer’s IAAF World Championships London 2017 and World Para Athletics Championships, London 2017 Ltd launched the initiative, which is supported by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, at Marion Richardson Primary School in Tower Hamlets.
23-year-old Peacock, who won gold in the 100m at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, met schoolchildren from Marion Richardson and Mowlem Primary Schools where he conducted an athletics PE lesson and educated them about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the World Para Athletics Championships this summer.
Double Paralympic gold medallist Jonnie Peacock added:
“It’s great to know that so many schoolchildren from London are able to come and experience a World Championships. London 2017 is the biggest sporting event in the world this year and I am looking forward to being able to show so many young people the best of Para athletics.
“It will be inspirational for so many children to see the best para athletes in the world competing in London. Their support will be amazing as we bid to win medals for the nation.”
Schools have been invited to apply for tickets to five mid-week sessions with mornings being prioritised for Primary Schools and the evening sessions for secondary schools and colleges. The sessions are being prepared to accommodate large school parties and organisers have set up a package of support to ensure an easy process for ticket applications from schools and attendance on the day.
The ticket offer scheme comprises:
- Tickets at just £3 for school children in the Greater London area
- Accompanying adults and teachers can attend for free
- Stadium sessions will begin at the slightly later time of 10.30am to enable school parties extra time to travel across London
- All children attending these schools sessions will travel free of charge on Transport for London services
- A dedicated volunteer will be provided for each school party to meet the group on arrival and lead them throughout their visit
Schools can apply for tickets from 10.00am today, 17 January with the offer closing on 10 February 2017 at 20.17pm.
The Mayor helped secure the London schools ticket offer to offer tickets at a discounted price, as well as offering schoolchildren and teachers free transport on the Transport for London network to get to the Championships.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“London is ready to welcome the biggest global sports event of 2017 and once again showcase our great city on the world stage and create new sporting history. After the success of our record-breaking ParaGB athletes in Rio last year, this summer’s World Para Athletics Championships in London is a not-to-be-missed, golden opportunity for 250,000 young Londoners to see our sporting heroes.”
Championship Director for London 2017 Niels de Vos said:
“We are preparing for the biggest sporting event of the year, here in London, and this initiative will give thousands of kids across London the chance to come and watch world-class athletics on their doorstep.
“We are thrilled that the Mayor of London has helped create the opportunity for so many schools to attend the World Para Athletics Championships.”
Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said:
“This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a quarter of million youngsters to see some of the world’s best Para athletes in action in an iconic venue.
“A visit to the World Para Athletics Championships is the perfect way for schools to end the academic year and showcase to their pupils what can be achieved by the athletes, individuals who have dedicated years of their lives to reach the top of their sport.”
The IAAF World Championships and the World Para Athletics Championships will bring together 3000 world-class athletes from more than 200 countries, who will compete in 30 sessions across 20 amazing days. This is the first time that the World Para Athletics Championships and the IAAF World Championships will be hosted by the same city in the same summer.
