WITH the London 2012 Olympic Games inspiring millions, the villages of the borough of Great Yarmouth have been highlighting the power of sport.

The final of the Active Norfolk Village Games 2012 was on Sunday, July 15. This culmination of six district competitions saw the borough well represented.

About 1,500 people from 28 village teams across Norfolk competed at the UEA Sportspark in Norwich, in archery, athletics, badminton, climbing, darts, football - junior & senior mens - fitness triathlon, rounders, table tennis, tennis and short mat bowls.

Alex Bond, rural sports development officer for Active Norfolk based at Easton College, said: “Everyone got in the spirit of it and enjoyed it, but now in its second year the competitive spirit is starting to shine through.

“It started off for the community and social aspect, about involvement - not just for sports clubs but for different age ranges and for people to try things they have not before.

“We are trying to create a legacy, to build community relations and get people involved in more healthy activities.”

Representing the Great Yarmouth Borough was Stokesby and Runham in the Small Villages category, Hopton in the Medium sized Villages, and Gorleston for Great Yarmouth in the Large Villages/Town’s event.

The event included opening and closing ceremonies, the opener featured two British Olympians, badminton star Donna Kellogg & Sprinter Craig Pickering and the first broadcast of The Spirit of The Games, an anthem inspired by The Olympic & Paralympic values performed by pupils from three South Norfolk schools.

It also saw the unveiling to the villages of a giant jigsaw that all participating villages have contributed to.

This project was to celebrate the Torch Relay arriving in Norfolk and is a joint project run in partnership with Norfolk County Council.

The closing ceremonies saw the prizes presented. Gorleston finished a very creditable third place in the Large Villages category for the second year running – winning the men’s football and the table tennis, finishing second in the junior archery doing well in the team fitness triathlon.

Hopton took 5th place in the Medium Villages category, with Stokesby and Runham finishing twelfth in the Small Villages category.

To get your village involved in the Village Games 2013, contact Alex Bond at Easton College on alex.bond@activenorfolk.org