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Hear why Dame Kelly's got
involved with the campaign.

by Chris Price
cprice@thekmgroup.co.uk

Young people need to learn how to lose and then pick themselves up
again according to a Kent Olympic legend.

Kent born double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes was
singing the praises of keeping a competitive edge as she launched a
new sports campaign at The Hop Farm Family Park in Paddock
Wood.

Running this summer from, Saturday, August 1 to Monday, August 31,
Every Day Is Sports Day will see children take part in a range of
classic sports activities at the park.

Firm favourites welly wanging, the three-legged race, sack race and
egg and spoon will all feature and event winners will receive
rosettes from the park’s Sport’s Matrons.

There is no hiding place for dads as well with special three-legged
races put on just for them, so their whole families can cheer them
on.

Dame Kelly, who lives in Hildenborough near Tonbridge, was keen to
stress there are lots of good aspects to giving children a
competitive spirit.

She said “Sport gives you lots of different skills like teamwork,
leadership, camaraderie and this campaign at the Hop Farm will
engage young people and give them something a little bit different
to do.

“There was an era when schools tried to take the competitive edge
away from sports day but being competitive is important. People
need to learn how to lose, pick themselves up, brush themselves off
and get going again. Those people who are not willing to give up
are the most successful in life.

“Hopefully schools will start to realise sport is an important
element of people’s lives and come round to re-introducing sports
days.

“It is always great to see events like this at the Hop Farm
encouraging young people to have fun and children can take part in
all the activities like the egg and spoon race and the sack race
which were popular when I was at school.”