Gold medallist to inspire sporting hopefuls

Jade Jones; Olympic taekwondo gold medalist, will be in Margate for the fourth annual Thanet Sports Awards taking place at Margate’s Winter Gardens on Wednesday 21st November. At only 19 years old, Jade was the youngest Olympic gold medalist at London 2012, securing Team GB’s 25th gold medal! Originally from Flint in Wales, Jade took on and beat China’s Yuzhuo Hou at the ExCel arena and was the first ever British taekwondo athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. The martial arts star will give Thanet’s sporting hopefuls words of encouragement and congratulate them in becoming recognised at the Thanet Sports Awards. As well as this, Jade will hold a Question & Answer session to give the future sports stars of Thanet a chance to find out a bit more about the London 2012 Gold Medalist. Jade said: “I think that the Thanet Sports Awards are an amazing opportunity to celebrate the best of the area’s sporting talent. It is so important that we offer our support to our local sporting heroes and continue the excitement from the Olympic Games. I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the individuals at the ceremony and I’m sure that it’s going to be a great event.” Cllr Iris Johnston was delighted to find out that Jade Jones was visiting Thanet, by saying “Taekwondo has always been extremely popular locally and I’ve been very impressed with the work of local coaches. It’s very exciting that Jade is available to attend and I know she’s an inspiration to the many young people who are taking up the sport.” The deadline for nominations for the Thanet Sports Awards is midnight on 19 October. Categories include Sportsman of the Year, Club of the Year, Sports Teacher of the Year and many more (13 categories in total). So there is still time to vote. The Thanet Sports Network is offering local businesses and other organisations the opportunity to sponsor the awards themselves. Sponsorship for one award costs £350 with two awards costing £500 and includes the company name and logo on the award, logo and company description in the event programme, two VIP tickets to the event and presentation of the award to the winner.  Further information and a sponsorship application form are available at www.thanet.gov.uk/sportsawards  The Thanet Sports Awards is organised by Thanet District Council’s Sport Matters Team & Thanet Sports Network. Corporate tables are also available for the awards ceremony, with prices starting at £35 per place. So even if you’re not nominated, you still have the chance to come and see a London 2012 Gold Medalist! For more information about this year’s awards and sponsorship, contact The Sport Matters Team on 01843 577032 or 07776 17737.