2012 Olympic venues open for Rio-inspired sports day

‘I am Team GB’ events aim to inspire budding Olympians
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Londoners will have the chance to play handball at one of the top venues from the 2012 Olympics in a bid to get people off the sofa and participate in more sport.

The Copper Box, one of most popular venues at London 2012, is opening its doors to the public as part of the biggest-ever sports day taking place on Saturday.

The event, called I Am Team GB, is being held across the UK with hundreds of venues offering experiences for budding Olympians.

Organisers want to capitalise on the huge success of Britain’s record-breaking athletes in Rio in a bid to encourage more people to become active. Other activities include Datto Ping! — a free street ping pong festival in different locations across the capital, and a 5k fun run in Burgess Park.

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Those hoping to emulate Andy Murray can take part in a tennis tournament at the Islington Tennis Centre, while a training session to experience what Olympians go through is being organised on Clapham Common, with four different Olympics-inspired exercise classes.

Britain won 67 medals at the Games — the country’s biggest medal count in more than a century and two more than the remarkable haul in London four years ago, putting Team GB second in the medal table.

The sports day is being organised by the National Lottery and ITV, with the broadcaster planning to switch off all seven of its channels for an hour on Saturday to encourage people to take part. Team GB’s returning Olympians will also join famous faces from ITV at various events. Over £80 million has been raised each year by National Lottery players to help fund elite athletes during the four-year build-up to Rio.

For more information about the events and to sign up visit www.iamteamgb.com

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