Street Olympix
Didcot's first Street Olympix was a massive success on Sunday 29th April 2007. Thousands of people enjoyed the sunny weather as they watched demonstrations of the diverse range of sports on offer in Didcot. Everything from Older & Bolder seated exercise to music & movement for the under 5s, with rugby, tai chi, dance and cheerleading, were included.
Display stands in the Orchard Centre gave people the opportunity to try a new activity, talk about health-related issues or join a club.
Ian Hutchings of Didcot Table Tennis Club said he was surprised and pleased with the level of interest shown amongst families who visited the activity which was based in Cargo Homestore. People leaving the event expressed their appreciation and thanks for a community event that was so wide-ranging in appeal. Other sports venues, including The Wave, Willowbrook, the Leisure Centre and Box-FitPN opened their doors to encourage people to try different activities.
Youth and community services all contributed to the success of the day. Rob Vaines, District Commissioner for Scouts said, "it provided a wonderful chance to involve young people in giving service to the community whilst providing a recruitment opportunity". This sentiment was echoed by the ATC, ACF and other groups.
We are extremely grateful to the following, who helped bring this event to the town:
Sports Facilities
Box-Fit
(www.boxfitpt.com, 07981 328326)
Curves
(www.curvesoxfordshire.co.uk, 01235 816381)
Soll Leisure
(www.soll-leisure.co.uk)
The Exercise Lounge
(www.theexerciselounge.co.uk, 01235 512111)
The Park Club
(www.parkclub.co.uk, 01235 206777)
Sports Clubs
Body Matters
(p.matter@ntlworld.com, 01235 810191)
Didcot Casuals Football Club
(www.didcotcasuals.co.uk)
Didcot Cheer Club
(elizabethrbird@hotmail.com, 01235 511048)
Didcot Cricket Club
(www.didcotcricketclub.co.uk)
Didcot Judo Club
(www.oxfordshirejudoclubs.co.uk, 01865 884339)
Didcot Rugby Club
(www.didcotrufc.com)
Didcot Runners
(www.didcotrunners.co.uk, Michael Needham 08454 164734)
Didcot Table Tennis Club
(www.ddtta.org.uk, Ian Hutchings 01235 813135)
Diets4Us
(www.diets4us.com, Karen Hunt 07879 645100)
GKR Karate
(eastern.uk@gkrkarate.com, Neil Thomas 07659 592746)
Health Walks
(www.whi.org.uk, 01491 823135)
Laura Wells
(laurawells.healthandfitness@yahoo.com, 07900 342573)
Korfball Club
(didcotkorfball@hotmail.com)
Music & Movement for under 5s
(Edna Hemmins 01491 652693)
Older & Bolder
(Val Kir 01235 816641)
Oxtricks free runners
(oxtricks@hotmail.co.uk, 07877 944926)
Taekwon Do
(www.millertkd.org.uk, 01235 819880)
Three Treasures Tai Chi
(www.threetreasurestaiji.co.uk, 01491 652391)
Wallingford Rowing Club
(www.wallingford.rowing.org.uk)
Community Groups
Active Ten20
(www.activten20.org, 01869 233570)
Air Training Corps
(www.aircadets.tv, 01235 555420)
Army Cadet Force
(www.royalgreenjackets.co.uk)
British Heart Foundation
(www.bhf.org.uk, 020 7935 0185)
British Red Cross
(www.redcross.org.uk, 01235 555811)
Didcot & District Scouts
(www.scoutsindidcot.org.uk, 01235 819742)
Oxon Playbus
(www.oxonplaybus.org.uk, 01869 322155)
Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue
Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust
Parents & Children Together
(www.pactcharity.org, 01235 511444)
St. Birinus School
(www.st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk, 01235 814444)
Businesses
Abbey Well
(www.abbey-well.co.uk)
Abingdon Sports
(abingdonsports@btconnect.com, 01235 520008)
Blenheim Colour
(www.blencolour.com, 01865 883882)
Boswells
(www.boswellsgroup.com, 01235 511533)
Cargo
(www.cargohomestore.com, 01235 811275)
Chilton Waste
(www.chiltonwasteservices.co.uk, 01235 831913)
Kingdom Signs
(www.kingdomsigns.com, 01235 812299)
O2
(www.02.co.uk)
Orange
(www.orange.co.uk)
Oxford FM 107.9
(www.fm1079.com, 0870 444 1079)
Sainsbury's
(www.sainsburys.co.uk)
SS20 Skate Shop
(www.ss20.com, 01865 791851)
Financial Sponsors
Hammerson UK Properties plc
Oxfordshire Community Foundation
Oxfordshire Sports Partnership
Science & Technology Facilities Council
South Oxfordshire District Council
Youth Service – The Vibe
Didcot Rugby Club spoke for many of the sports groups when they said they "had attracted potential new members" to their club.
Despite the small number of runners in the mile races, the participants were all pleased to receive their water bottles (donated by Abbey Well), certificates and medals. For several it was their first mile run and they thanked Didcot Runners for the immense effort they put into the event both before and during the races.
We know that positive, ongoing partnerships were created between community and service groups which will benefit the residents of Didcot into the future, and Didcot First believes that there were also many other benefits derived from the event other than taking part in the day – why not tell us your story?
A full evaluation will be conducted during May and will be posted on this website. We are keen to hear if you think this should be an annual event.
03/05/07 pg19
'Fantastic' street cred
By Rowena Mason
FORGET London 2012 - Didcot 2007 showed the Olympic spirit in abundance.
More than a thousand exercise fanatics donned trainers and shorts for Street Olympix, the town's first fitness festival, last Sunday.
Thirty different sports groups gathered at the Orchard Centre to show their talents.
Organiser Di Chesterman said: "It's fantastic here today, really busy. Lots of people are asking whether it will be an annual event and we certainly hope so."
Highlights of the day included fire hose reeling, a colourful show by dozens of cheerleaders, and a Tai Chi demonstration.
The fastest, strongest and most skilful competitors will make it through to next month's Street Olympix county finals at Oxford, taking on other winners from events around the county.
Sir Roger Bannister is the patron of Street Olympix, part of Oxfordshire's 1,000 birthday celebrations The chairman of Didcot Korfball Club, Mark Bright, said: "It's busy, busy, busy here. We're hoping to raise the profile of the sport, which is growing all the time. It's definitely giving the kids something to do, keeping them active. It's such a positive event for Didcot."
