1Xtra DJ L Double provides the soundtrack for the fencers
|
As well as football, the players at the Your Game event in Leeds had the opportunity to try the unique sport of fencing, courtesy of James Williams.
The former Olympian is now an ambassador for Sporting Champions, helping to inspire young people to participate and achieve their dreams in sport.
Williams tells Your Game why the day was a huge success for himself and the sport of fencing.
Fencing suffers from some serious stereotyping. It is generally perceived as an elitist, snobbish sport, out of the reach of "normal" people.
Most people think that unless you are rich, or lucky enough to be in an environment where you can access the sport (private schools, leisure holiday facilities etc) you have no chance of getting an opportunity to test your mettle and see whether you have what it takes to reach the top.
With a little help from Your Game, I was able to destroy the stereotype, well give it a bit of a kicking anyway.
 |
JAMES WILLIAMS
Team gold medal, individual bronze, 1998 Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur
Quarter-finals, 2000 Olympics, Sydney
Two-time British Champion
British number one 1997 to 2004
|
I was overwhelmed by the reception I received, in particular the enthusiasm of the young people who came to have a go at my sport.
This reception was even more surprising and humbling given they were supposed to be playing in an important football tournament.
But this was the beautiful thing abut my Your Game experience. Combining cutting edge dance, reggae and hip-hop music with the clash and bash of steel on steel was pretty exciting.
It allowed young people to access activities (well, my sport in any event) that they would not normally do in an environment they were entirely comfortable with.
Some of the artists backstage where as keen as the young people to have a go and it was pretty cool to see microphones exchanged for swords in another form of a dancehall challenge!
But where do we go from here? Well from my prospective, I am pretty excited.
I have long held the view, based on my own journey through the sport, that if fencing can engage and recruit young people from the inner cities, estates and other non-traditional pathways, we have the chance of being truly dominate world power.
I believe that in the UK we have a vast untapped talent pool of young people.
|
Young people do not even consider the sport as they wrongly think it is not for them
|
Many are just waiting for someone to give them a chance. Your Game could give them that chance.
The multi-sport environment (I should also mention National ABA boxing champion Joe Rodgers who was with me) was truly fantastic and the talent of the young people I saw and worked with (big shout out to the girls by the way) means I will be following up quite a few of these as they have good prospects.
The caveat is whether fencing can rise to the challenge of engaging and reaching out to these potential world beaters.
I think we can, but we will need a bit of help. We need to break down the barriers that mainly arise from negative stereotypes of who can and should do fencing.
Young people do not even consider the sport as they wrongly think it is not for them. Fortunately we have a few programmes that are doing just that.
A fantastic inner-city fencing programme is currently ongoing in the London Borough of Camden, championed by my good friend and Colleague Ron Veldon.
He has over 150 inner-city young people fencing in a community school, with top level coaches. It is a sight to see.
On guard!
|
But if we are to spread the news and build on the general lack of access to fencing in local communities, local authorities and other agencies responsible for the development of sport and facilitating access to sport must be challenged.
They must address barriers to access and at least give young people an opportunity to try it - you never know they might even like it!
For my part I'm doing my bit and will continue to work with my local authority (and any others who are up for it!) to spread the word - give young people a chance to aspire.
Fencing is without doubt a sport that can bridge gaps. It can breaks down class, cultural and many other perceived barriers and give young people a real sense of achievement.
Football might be the beautiful game but I reckon fencing is not too far behind - and our kit is much sexier!
Your Game is a partnership between the BBC and the Football Foundation, with support from Barclays Spaces for Sports.
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
Video diary: Your Game Leeds
