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I Am Team GB: Sports clubs open doors for free | I Am Team GB: Sports clubs open doors for free |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Thousands of sports clubs across the UK are opening their doors for free on Saturday following Team GB's success at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. | Thousands of sports clubs across the UK are opening their doors for free on Saturday following Team GB's success at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. |
The event hopes to encourage more people to take part in sport. | The event hopes to encourage more people to take part in sport. |
ITV switched off all seven of its TV channels for an hour from 09:30 BST to encourage people to get off their sofas and do some exercise. | ITV switched off all seven of its TV channels for an hour from 09:30 BST to encourage people to get off their sofas and do some exercise. |
Olympic stars taking part in I Am Team GB include rower Helen Glover, and gymnasts Amy Tinkler and Max Whitlock. | Olympic stars taking part in I Am Team GB include rower Helen Glover, and gymnasts Amy Tinkler and Max Whitlock. |
They will be attending events in towns and cities across the country such as London, Cardiff and Glasgow. | They will be attending events in towns and cities across the country such as London, Cardiff and Glasgow. |
The sports on offer range from bowls and hockey to gymnastics and cricket. Some councils are also offering swimming sessions for free. | The sports on offer range from bowls and hockey to gymnastics and cricket. Some councils are also offering swimming sessions for free. |
Medal haul | Medal haul |
Whitlock, who won two gold medals and one bronze at Rio 2016, said: "I Am Team GB is encouraging everyone to get out and get active while also celebrating the support that the public gives Team GB by playing the National Lottery. | Whitlock, who won two gold medals and one bronze at Rio 2016, said: "I Am Team GB is encouraging everyone to get out and get active while also celebrating the support that the public gives Team GB by playing the National Lottery. |
"The first Saturday after the Olympic Games will see hundreds of clubs and sporting venues across the UK open their doors, encouraging people to participate and all for free." | "The first Saturday after the Olympic Games will see hundreds of clubs and sporting venues across the UK open their doors, encouraging people to participate and all for free." |
It comes as several Olympians have been welcomed back to the clubs where they train. | It comes as several Olympians have been welcomed back to the clubs where they train. |
Whitlock, coach Scott Hann and team-mate Brinn Bevan were met by crowds at South Essex Gymnastics Club in Basildon. | Whitlock, coach Scott Hann and team-mate Brinn Bevan were met by crowds at South Essex Gymnastics Club in Basildon. |
Whitlock said he was proud to be supported by an "incredible" club and hoped to inspire more gymnasts. | Whitlock said he was proud to be supported by an "incredible" club and hoped to inspire more gymnasts. |
Tinkler, 16, who won bronze, honed her skills at South Durham Gymnastics Club. | Tinkler, 16, who won bronze, honed her skills at South Durham Gymnastics Club. |
She said: "To see everyone back here is overwhelming. It's incredible, it's starting to sink in but it still seems crazy that it actually has happened." | She said: "To see everyone back here is overwhelming. It's incredible, it's starting to sink in but it still seems crazy that it actually has happened." |
'Brave idea' | |
The ITV switch-off got a mixed reaction on social media. | |
Doctor and TV presenter Ranj Singh tweeted: "Well done @ITV for switching off its channels for 1 hour to encourage people to go out & get active! #IamTeamGB." | |
Several Twitter users praised ITV, with one calling the switch-off a "great and brave idea", but others mocked the move. | |
One called it the "best thing I've ever seen on ITV", while several suggested the switch-off should have been delayed until Saturday evening to coincide with the new series of The X Factor. | |
Figures from Sports England show that the number of people playing sport fell after the London Olympics in 2012. | |
I Am Team GB is being staged by the National Lottery in conjunction with UK Sport and the British Olympic Association. | |
The country's athletes have won 633 Olympic and Paralympic medals since lottery funding started in 1997. | |
Team GB won 67 medals in Rio - 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze in Rio - the best for 108 years. |