YONGSTERS from East London’s Olympic host’ boroughs have been getting the spirit of the 2012 Games under their belt—thanks to the ancient Guild of Beltmakers, competing in athletics for this year’s Girdler’s Cup from the Worshipful Company of Girdlers

YONGSTERS from three of East London’s Olympic host’ boroughs have been getting the spirit of the 2012 Games under their belt—thanks to the ancient Guild of Beltmakers.

They have been competing in athletics and other sports as well as five-a-side football for this year’s Girdler’s Cup which takes it name from the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, one of the oldest City Livery companies dating back to 1327.

“It’s good to get kids playing other sports apart from football all the time,” said Peter Trinningham from the Girdlers’ Company.

“Other sports help development such as hand-eye co-ordination and give them a chance to try something different. We want to get the children into the spirit of the 2012 Olympics.”

ORIENT

One of their beneficiaries is Leyton Orient’s community summer programme, with coaching sessions at George Green’s School on the Isle of Dogs and at Poplar’s Robin Hood Gardens estate, as well as Queensbridge sports centre in Shoreditch, Lions boxing club in Hackney, Stratford Park centre and East Ham’s Little Ilford youth club.

The under-16s from these sessions competed at Stratford Park for the cup in cricket, hockey, tennis, basketball, track athletics and handball as well as football. Overall winners were Hackney’s Lion Club.