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Local Athlete meets Prime Minister at Ambassador Launch
Lisburn badminton player Tony Stephenson met Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday night when he was named as one of the UK School Games Champion Ambassadors.
Stephenson earned the position following his outstanding performance at last year’s Games where he was the boys singles gold medallist.
Eight of the 12 ambassadors attended a House of Commons reception hosted by the former sports minister and current UK School Games president Richard Caborn MP, but prior to that they were each given the opportunity to meet the PM.
Brown has been a keen supporter of the UK School Games, having visited the first ever event in 2006 in Glasgow and then last year announced the winning cities for future Games, of which the third will be staged in Bristol and Bath this summer.
“Mr Brown asked us about our training schedules and what sports we all do,” said the 17 year old.
“This is a really special moment and will definitely be very memorable. I find it quite an honour to be named an ambassador and also to be the only one from Northern Ireland.
“Coventry was the only Games I competed in and unfortunately I will too old for this year’s one in Bristol and Bath but I hope that my role as ambassador will help me make the Games an amazing occasion for future competitors.
“I can’t say enough what an amazing experience it was, it’s so well organised and just a lot of fun.”
Along with the other ambassadors Stephenson will now play an active role in contributing to the future development of the UK School Games and raise its profile as patrons, while meeting annually with Caborn to provide an insight into the event as part of the Athletes Commission.
Caborn said: “The annual Games give Britain's best school-age athletes the opportunity to compete against each other - and show the rest of the country how talented they are.
“The UK School Games Champion Ambassador programme recognises the performances of those outstanding athletes across each sport who will become role models for their peers, help champion this inspirational event and, we hope, go on to win medals at major elite events.
“I will also be using the UK School Games Champion Ambassador programme as a sounding board for the development of the UK School Games for the future.”
It is expected that each ambassador will serve for between one and three years, with future nominations being made by the National Governing Bodies and Home Country Sports Councils, which will then be considered by the panel and each year worthy Champion will be invited to become an Ambassador.
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