Outstanding Olympiad success

Schools across the Brigshaw Co-operative Trust have enjoyed an epic Olympic odyssey! After 2 years of planning and preparation, the week started with the arrival of more than 200 international visitors from across the world. Families of young people and children across the Trust hosted visitors and were keen to extend a really warm welcome.    

Monday started with a full English breakfast and an 'It is a Knockout' style ice-breaking event to help everyone get to know each other. Hosts and visitors enjoyed taking part in fun activities on the Breeze inflatables, a giant tug of war game and lots, lots more…

The afternoon was a phenomenal success when we broke the Guiness Book of World Record’s largest Zumba class record with a massive 3,302 people taking part.

Tuesday was our Paralympics event and Leeds Spiders Basketball star (and Brigshaw student), Josh Gardener, attended to coach young people at Brigshaw culminating in a game of wheelchair basketball. Our international guests also accompanied their hosts to local primary schools and spent time meeting our younger children and engaging in a whole range of Olympic themed activities. The evening brought an array of spectacular cabaret performances from international visitors, Brigshaw students and primary school children.

On Wednesday and Thursday visitors and hosts got ‘out and about’ spending a fun day at Flamingo Land and a day in the City of Leeds. Thursday started with a grand Civic Reception with the Lord Mayor of Leeds followed by student-guided tours of the City Museum, Art Gallery and Library. Everyone enjoyed the traditional dish of fish and chips and visited Leeds Market before indulging in a spot of serious shopping…! 

Friday will see our Olympic Games and on Saturday we are looking forward to welcoming the community to, what promises to be, a fantastic family Gala Day. Hosts and visitors will be attending Leeds and Temple Newsam to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch in Leeds on Sunday.

What a sensational, ‘once in a lifetime’ event which will be remembered by everyone for years to come.

We'd like to thank all our sponsors and partners for helping to make this project such an overwhelming success.