Seven lucky students set to take Games Makers roles (From Bournemouth Echo)

Seven lucky students set to take Games Makers roles

11:13am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in News By Nicky Findley

AS the London 2012 Paralympic Games get under way today, seven senior Poole High School students will soon be getting closer to the action than most.

For they have beaten more than 30,000 applicants to become Young Games Makers at the Paralympic Sailing in Weymouth and Portland.

Michaela Catchpole, Alex Rea, Liberty Hammond-Forge, Kim Jarrad, Callum Mackenzie, Liam Jacobs and Joe Bartlett will be working as technology volunteers from September 1-6.

They will be assisting with the building and technological aspects of the event as well as distributing results for the live broadcasting services.

Their role follows a lengthy application process which started at the beginning of the year and which included an all-day interview at the London 2012 Olympic headquarters in Canary Wharf, London, followed by an introductory conference with other Young Games Makers from around the country in July.

Earlier this month the seven sixth-formers returned to London again to collect their uniforms and to receive specific role training for their work in Weymouth.

Team member Michaela Catchpole, 16, of Branksome Park in Poole said they were now eager to put all their training into practice.

“I know how lucky we are to get the opportunity to be involved in an event that will be part of history,” she said, “I feel so privileged to have been given this role and I cannot wait to begin!”

Poole High’s acting headteacher Frances Heafield added: “The school is very proud of the students who are taking part and thank both them and the staff who have supported them in this highly-competitive bid.”