24 November 2009
Jonathan Edwards names his Northwest “Everyday Hero”
Jonathan Edwards, London 2012 Board member and Olympic Triple
Jump Gold medallist, has nominated Rob Young, Northwest Coordinator
for the 2012 Games, as his “Everyday Hero” for London 2012.
The national competition, organised by BT, aims to create a
photographic record of those who deserve special recognition in
helping to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games happen.
The winners of the competition will have their photo taken by
one of the world’s leading photographers, with their picture and
story displayed alongside hundreds of famous faces in the Road to
2012 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
Jonathan Edwards said:
“Rob is one of 12 Nations and Regions Coordinators who work
across the UK to ensure that London 2012 really is 'Everyone's
Games'. Rob exemplifies the hard work and commitment to ensuring
that whether you live in Manchester or Margate, people across the
UK have the opportunity to be inspired by London 2012.
“His enthusiasm, strategic thinking, relationship building and
desire to 'just do' are simply first class and thousands of people
from across the Northwest have had the opportunity to be touched by
the London 2012 magic dust because of it.”
Since joining the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
in December 2006, Rob has made a major contribution to ensuring the
Northwest benefits as much as possible from London hosting the
Games in 2012. In the past two years alone, Rob has played a major
part in:
• Helping to secure Pre Games Training Camps in the
Northwest with 17 countries – Thailand, Oceania (15 Pacific Island
countries) and Swimming Australia (a deal which will generate £1
million for the regional economy)
• Hosting the first ever Pre Games Training Camp with the
Australia swimming team in Manchester in summer 2009, and arranging
for over 400 children across Manchester to be coached by the
team
• Organising a training event for teachers in the Northwest to
learn about ‘Get Set’, the London 2012 Education programme which
769 Northwest schools have now signed up to (equating to over
450,000 young people)
• Bringing a group of competition winners from Northwest
schools to London for a tour around the Olympic Park
• Arranging for a team of young reporters from the London 2012
Inspire Mark project 'Supporter to Reporter' to accompany Prince
William on a walk up Hellvellyn in Cumbria
Rob Young, Northwest Coordinator for the 2012 Games, said of his
nomination:
“I am genuinely surprised but very proud to be nominated for this
award. London 2012 can benefit the whole of the UK and in the
Northwest we have already started to see the sporting, social and
economic benefits of the Games. This is a nomination for the hard
work and dedication of a number of colleagues in the region who
share this passion to make London 2012 everybody’s Games.”
Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing &
Communications at the NWDA, said:
“Rob has played a major role in the successes we’ve achieved as a
region so far and we’re very proud that his hard work and
commitment have been recognised with this nomination.
“From our businesses delivering contracts to helping world-class
athletes to prepare for London 2012 using our facilities, the
Northwest will not only have played a vital role in making the
Games happen but will also be left with a really strong legacy long
after 2012. I’d encourage everyone in the Northwest to vote for Rob
and make him our Everyday Hero.”
The winning entries will be chosen by the panel of judges on or
about 5th April 2010, with winners notified before 30th April
2010.
Vote for Rob at www.broadband.bt.com/roadto2012
-ends-
For further information please contact Rachel Handford, PR
Manager on 01925 400237 or 07810 528449 or Rachel.Handford@nwda.co.uk
For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925
400259.
For further information and to view all press releases visit us
at www.nwda.co.uk/press
The Northwest Regional Development Agency works to deliver
economic success in England’s Northwest by building the
competitiveness of businesses, people and places. Working
with partners, we are ensuring the region creates positive
sporting, social and economic benefits from the London 2012 Olympic
Games and Paralympic Games.