Half-Term: Saturday 11th – Sunday 19th February 2012
Celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this February half-term at Enginuity, one of the 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums, and challenge yourself at the exciting Games and Me event. Between Saturday 11th and Sunday 19th February, you will be able to have your own Olympic experience by testing your speed and reaction times using state-of-the-art equipment as used by professional sports stars and see amazing shows looking at the science behind sport.
The event has been developed in partnership with West Midlands for 2012 as part of the regionwide Games and Me campaign, which aims to encourage and inspire as many people as possible to engage with the London 2012 Games and share their own Olympic or Paralympic experiences and stories at www.facebook.com/thegamesandme.
In advance of the Jamaican Track and Field team setting up their London 2012 training camp in Birmingham later this year, the centrepiece of the event will be the ‘Beat the Bolt’ challenge where you can race alongside a virtual Usain Bolt to see if you can beat his world record run of 100m in 9.58 seconds, or indeed match his stride of 2.44 meters. With the commentary flowing and the attempt being filmed for playback evaluation, this is sure to be a popular and challenging activity for all. Other activities will include a ‘Batak Wall’, where you can test the speed of your reactions and peripheral vision, and a speed gun to record how fast you can kick different weight footballs. Many of the Premier League football players and Formula One racing drivers use these training aids to help them improve their performance.
The Enginuity presenters will also be delivering another of their popular shows in the theatre looking at the science and technical developments behind many of the speed and movement challenges, which athletes have encountered and mastered in Olympic and Paralympic arenas. You will also be encouraged to record your own greatest sporting moment and which sporting heroes you most admire.
Alongside the Games and Me activities, the local Telford Model Aero Club will be holding a display with a range of presentations, demonstrations and hands-on family activities. You will be able to build and launch a pneumatic rocket and take part in a speed challenge; watch daily indoor flying displays including electric helicopters; look closely at model aircraft and talk to the flying experts. Activities will vary from day-to-day and some additional costs will apply.
For for further information, contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk.