Olympic welcome for Pitsford sports centre

Colin Jackson CBE opens Pitsford School's new sports centre

Posted by Stephanie Broad | May 05, 2016 | Sports & Leisure

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• #sports-centre
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Pitsford School’s brand new £2 million sports centre was officially opened by Colin Jackson CBE, World Champion Athlete and Olympic silver medallist, on 29 April. The school also held a 24-hour inter-house cyclothon in the centre between 28 and 29 April.

Colin said: “It is absolutely fabulous to join you today and I am very pleased as a former international sportsman to see Pitsford School’s new sporting facilities. The key thing about being a role model is helping make the dream happen by being motivated. I looked after Usain Bolt when he was 15 years old and he asked me what it was like to be a champion. I thought about what inspired me every day to be the best I could be. It is important to learn from your mistakes; not everything you do is perfect. When I was trying to win an Olympic Gold Medal, the qualifying round was easy and so I didn’t bother warming up for the next round. As I hadn’t prepared, I got injured and although I got through to the final, I finished in seventh place. It was important to learn from that and ask why it happened.

“Preparation for anything you do in life is key. Remember to prepare well and deliver what you are capable of. Make good use of role models around you and ask them what got them to the top of their game. Many of you will be fantastic at whatever it is that you set your heart and mind to. Be the best that you can be and enjoy what you do; that is the most important thing.”

Large enough to hold four full-sized badminton courts, a fully-equipped cardiovascular fitness suite, café area and changing facilities, the sports centre offers a wide choice of sports facilities including volleyball, badminton and five-a-side football together.