Oakgrove’s Olympic guard of honour

While millions were watching on television, eight pupils from Oakgrove Integrated College had a close-up view of the athletes at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

They were among 2,000 school children from across the UK who formed a guard of honour as the athletes made their way through the Olympic Park into the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.

As the competing countries paraded into the stadium the pupils met some of the world’s top athletes, including Usain Bolt, Novac Djokovic, Luis Suarez, Tom Daley and Sir Chris Hoy.

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Oakgrove College was one of only nine schools from Northern Ireland selected by the organizers to be part of the celebrations.

The schools selected were chosen in recognition of the commitment they have shown to promoting the Olympic and Paralympic values as part the Get Set Network , LOCOG’s education programme.

Vice Principal, Conal Donaghy said: “Staff and pupils have been working hard over the past two years as part of the Get Set Network to raise awareness of the Olympic values. It has been great to watch the confidence and leadership skills of the pupils develop as they led the different activities in school.”

Speaking after returning from London, pupil Chloe Moore said: “I was so overwhelmed by the whole day. Who would have thought I would get the chance to high-five Usain Bolt? I’m a cycling fan and I got Chris Hoy’s autograph. That was a real highlight.”

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Oakgrove PE teacher, Catherine Fletcher, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the pupils to be part of the Olympic Games. We met some of the world’s best athletes, had a tour of the Olympic Park and the new arenas. As one of the pupils said on the way home ‘It was the best night of my life’.

“It was an unforgettable experience,” she added.