Caerphilly Officers Join Glyn and Imogen at the National Launch of 5x60

03.01.2007

Welsh Big Brother 7 stars Glyn Wise and Imogen Thomas today joined Sports Minister Alun Pugh AM as they stepped back into the playground to launch the Welsh Assembly Government’s innovative new programme aimed at getting young people in Wales more active.

Having successfully helped to transform the sporting landscape in primary schools the Welsh Assembly Government and Sports Council for Wales are now setting their sights on achieving the same success in Wales’ secondary schools.

Abertillery Leisure Centre in Blaenau Gwent set the scene for a lively launch of the pioneering 5x60 programme where Abertillery Comprehensive School pupils - together with the visiting glitterati - experienced a new dimension in the way physical activity is set to be delivered in Wales’ secondary schools.

In launching the Assembly Government’s £7.6 million programme, Sports Minister, Alun Pugh outlined why he thinks 5x60 will help to create a healthier nation.

Sports Minister Alun Pugh said: “If you get the exercise bug when you’re young, it’s with you for life. So it’s really important that young people get the opportunity to take part in activities that they enjoy. By 2025 we want almost every young person in Wales doing 5 x 60 weekly. The introduction of 5 x 60 for young people in secondary schools is a big step along this path”.

Indeed, the 5x60 scheme is set to change the face of the provision of sport and physical activity in schools by transforming playing fields and sports halls into hubs of bustling activity from daybreak to nightfall.

The programme has been introduced to continue the momentum started by the Sports Council for Wales’ Dragon Sport scheme - the highly acclaimed lottery funded programme which facilitates the delivery of extra-curricular sport and physical activity in primary schools across the length and breadth of Wales.

Chair of the Sports Council for Wales Philip Carling is looking forward to seeing the new scheme develop.

“Through its Climbing Higher vision, the Welsh Assembly Government has laid down the fitness gauntlet by setting the target of seeing 90% of children taking part in 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on at least five days of the week by 2020.

“By rolling out the 5x60 initiative throughout Wales, we are rising to that challenge together by helping to create the environment necessary for children to take part in extra curricular sport and physical activity on a regular basis.”

By 2009 it is expected that fully trained 5X60 officers will be deployed into every secondary school in Wales - each fully equipped to coordinate the new secondary school specific extra-curricular programme that will take place before school, at lunch time, after school and at the weekends.

Pupils will decide upon the type of activities in which they want to participate in with the ultimate aim of encouraging those who do not take part in sport to dust off their trainers and get active. Activities will comprise of a mixture of competitive, team and individual sports as well as recreational activities.

And the opportunities to get involved are plenty as the Big Brother stars discovered at the launch.

The show’s runner-up Glyn was a keen competitor in the weekly tasks set by Big Brother during his 13-week stint, having danced non-stop for over 10 hours in the Blindfolded Danceathon task and walked 15,337 steps to be handed the crown in the 500-mile pedometer challenge.

And the 18-year-old from Blaenau Ffestiniog wasted little time in getting in on the action in Abertillery. The former head boy at Ysgol y Moelwyn and part-time lifeguard took to the trampoline and table tennis court as he immersed himself in the variety of activities on display.

“This is fantastic! It’s so good to see all these children getting involved in sport. Just 60 minutes of exercise like this, five times a day is so easy to do and it’s so much fun. Can I get back on the trampoline again?!”

Imogen, 23 from Llanelli, became the self-confessed aerobics queen of the Big Brother house this summer as she guided her housemates through a gruelling, high-tempo daily exercise class. She took centre stage again today as she united with the students to indulge in an aerobics and boxercise session.

“When I was their age I was into gymnastics, netball and won ribbons in horse riding. You just couldn’t stop me!

“I’m a massive fan of boxercise and have actually got a number of belts in it so I think it’s fantastic that this scheme is introducing it - and all these other activities - to children at such a young age.”

Activities to be provided through 5x60 will be based on those available in the local area such as outdoor and adventure activities, recreational activities such as aerobics and dance, as well as the extension of traditional Dragon Sport activities such as cricket, netball and golf.