Youngsters bid to be Olympic volunteers

Between September 22 and November 7, young people from across the borough applied for the roles as part of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games' (LOCOG) Young Games Maker Programme.

Up to 25 youngsters from every school that submitted an application were invited to selection events - the first two of which took place on November 16 at South Thames College , in Wandsworth Town , and November 15 at Ernest Bevin College , in Tooting.

They gave the students a chance to demonstrate their sports skills and ability during a series of activities and skills drills. Each pupil was bidding to be picked to play a part in the 2012 Games' tennis tournament, which will be held in Wimbledon . 

The council's cabinet member for education and children's services, Councillor Kathy Tracey, said: "It's wonderful to see so many students volunteering to become ball boys and ball girls at one of the most exciting sporting events the Games has to offer.

"The Young Games Maker programme is a fantastic opportunity for young people in the borough to be involved in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and witness some of the world's best sports stars in action."

The selection events were the second stage in the process to become a London 2012 volunteer, after the application process invited schools to put forward teams of 16 to 18 year olds to become ball boys and ball girls.

Wandsworth Council has been helping LOCOG work with schools to inform them of sporting opportunities and provide the facilities being used for the recent selection events.

For more information about the London 2012 Young Games Maker volunteering programme visit www.london2012/volunteer