LIMELIGHT LONDON 2012
Special Edition
people g un yo by le, op pe g un yo r fo e zin ga ma le ty es lif l na tio na A WINTER 2012/2013 FREE
LIMELIGHT STRIKES
GOLD! WE INTERVIEW
FIVE
LONDON 2012
ATHLETES
LIMELIGHT GOES TO...
DAYBREAK!
WE TOUR ITV’S BREAKFAST SHOW
INCLUDING MO FARAH
PLUS
OUR USUAL MIX OF PRIZES, CAREERS, FASHION AND CELEBS..
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Contents 4 Olympic torch relay – Teen runs with The Wanted! 5 Behind the scenes of London 2012 – We speak to
Olympic volunteers
6 Wise words of wisdom – Archbishop Desmond Tutu talks up the Olympics
7 Watch out Usain! – Meet the teenager who aims to topple
the lightning bolt!
8 Want to succeed in life? – Then follow these top tips from Olympians and a Paralympian 11 Overnight success – Man band Lawson tell us how they did it! 12 Introducing Liz Lawrence – A singer with style! 13 The First Lady! – Nicola Adams makes boxing history with Olympic gold at London 2012 14 The secrets to success – Brit film extraordinaire Noel Clarke shares insider info
16 Get sporty! – New Look shows you how 18 Get the low on Mo – Our very own British hero! 20 A tour like no other – Limelight goes to Daybreak! 22 Fastest, strongest, highest – London 2012’s greatest moments 24 Golden girl! – Olympic medal winner Joanna Rowsell speaks to Limelight 26 VIP visit – Royals celebrate new uni 27 On Usain’s tail – James Dasaolu sprints towards his ambitions 28 Limelight’s Day Out – At the Paralympics 30 Riveting reviews – Check out what we’ve got! 31 Be inspired – Paralympian Mark Colbourne shares his incredible story 32 And the winner is – We reveal the city which hosted the best ever Olympics! 33 Looking forward – What can we expect from Rio 2016? 34 Need work experience? – Then join Limelight!
Assistant editors’ letter
DISCLAIMER: Limelight is a lifestyle magazine for young people aged 11-25. The views within the magazine are not those of the publisher - Rise Youth Group Limited, which trades as Rise Media - but of the individual writer. All information in Limelight was correct at the time of going to press.
Roxanne
H
i guys, We are Barbara and Roxanne, and we’re really excited to bring you this London 2012 souvenir issue of Limelight. This edition is special not just because it’s all about the Olympics and Paralympics, but also because it’s our first national issue. Limelight is no longer just in the London boroughs of Sutton, Merton and Croydon, but across London and well beyond in cities such as Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. We hope everyone including our new readers will enjoy this special edition, which features interviews with four London 2012 gold medal winners, inspirational volunteers who helped make the Games a resounding success and our usual sprinkling of celebrity interviews with an Olympics twist! Turn to page 11 for the first of these celeb interviews with pop band Lawson, who performed at the Olympic Park, just before the men’s beach volley ball. On pages14 and 15 you’ll find our interview with Noel Clarke, the dynamic actor, director and producer. His summer smash hit film, Fast Girls, about the exciting world of international athletics, is now out on DVD and doing brilliantly. Try hiring the DVD on Lovefilm and you’ll know what I mean – there’s a long waiting list!!! The Limelight team had the privilege of interviewing Noel face-to- face. Check out one of the pictures we took in his agent’s office below! We hope you enjoy our latest effort and welcome any feedback. Get in touch at limelight@risemedia.org.uk Happy reading! Barbara and Roxanne Limelig
Editorial team Assistant editors: (trainees) Barbara Bielecka and Roxanne Mirza Chief sub editor: Roxana Hall Writers: Cynthia Mosengo, Peter Bint, Elizabeth Adelusi, Nicola Maggot Pope, Chantelle Phinda, Sophia Wright, Terrelle Iziren, Zain Abidin and Charlotte Veryard Editorial assistants: Aishat Animashaun and Tianna Haffenden Researcher/administrator: Tio Lishomwa Web designer: Lucy Davis Magazine designer: Shaun Marcelle Fashion team Fashion co-ordinator ( hair, styling and photography): Kamara Anderson Stylist: Sean Azeez Models: Xalan Xalane and Barbara Bielecka Photographers: Zain Abidin and Lucy Davis Make-up: Mariam Moin
Barbara
ht with Noel Cla rke
LimeLight is published by Rise Media
LimeLight 3
Student carries Olympic torch alongside The Wanted!
Jason with the torch
Hannah carrying the torch with The Wanted
J
Celebrities weren’t the only people who carried the Olympic torch through towns and cities across Great Britain. People just like us got the chance to carry it too, ahead of what turned out to be the best ever Olympics - London 2012 By Sophia Wright and Elizabeth Adelusi
H
annah Jukes, 18, seized an amazing opportunity to carry the Olympic torch alongside top boy band The Wanted. Hannah, an A level student from Cannock in Staffordshire was nominated by national sports charity Street Games to carry the torch, after overcoming dyslexia and doing voluntary work in a township in South Africa. She carried the torch through a street in Newtown, Birmingham on Saturday June 30. After the big event, we asked Hannah how it felt to carry the torch, especially with The Wanted beside her. She replied: “It was an awesome opportunity, it was so unbelievable and a once in a life time experience.”
ason Sarginson, 26, who grew up in care, is proof that a difficult up bringing does not have to define you. “If I could go back to my teens, I’d tell myself not to get a criminal record,” said Jason, who was arrested and cautioned at 18 for getting into a fight. Jason connected with national sports charity Street Games after he saw an advertisement calling for sports volunteers. “I just wanted to do something with my life”, admitted Jason who went on to help coach tennis games and football matches. Jason’s coaching skills grew quickly and he soon secured a paid opportunity as a full - time sports coach for Port Vale Football Club. Jason now works part-time as a steward for the club. Jason is glad he spotted the Street Games advert, because it not only led to work, but a chance to carry the Olympic torch, which he ran with down a road in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, last summer. “The streets [in Ashbourne] were absolutely packed,” he recalled. “I was nervous to start with, but was absolutely fine, when I started running.”
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Two London 2012 volunteers speak to Limelight!
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Kerry at the Olympic Stadium
erry Ferguson, a 19-yearold from Kinross, in Scotland spent eight weeks volunteering for Coca-Cola at the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. Her role was to hand out free soft drinks to the media and the athletes. Although her working days were long, starting at 5am, Kerry still got a chance to see some of the athletes compete in the Games, including judo silver medallist Gemma Gibbons. Kerry stayed at the Holiday Inn in South Kensington, while volunteering. All her hotel expenses were paid for by Coca-Cola and as an extra bonus she was paid an amazing £3,000 for eight weeks’ work. “I volunteered for the role knowing travel, accommodation and food would be included and this was enough for me,” said Kerry. “When I found out we [all the coke volunteers] were getting paid, it just added to the experience and personally meant I was able to spend more money on sightseeing and going out.” Kerry said that the best moment of the eight weeks, wasn’t finding out she was going to get paid, but “seeing the dress rehearsal of the spectacular opening ceremony”.
Chris and Daley
The Olympic and Paralympic Games went off without a hitch, but this would not have been possible without the thousands of volunteers
C
hris Mills, 18, spent four weeks working for Coca-Cola at Eton Dorney, near Windsor, where the Olympic rowers were based. Coca-Cola had storage facilities and the volunteers had to carry drinks from them to the fridges which were in around 20 tents and trailers. “We were dealing with thousands of drinks a day. They included Fanta, Sprite as well as Coca-Cola,” said Chris, who is from Chorley, near Preston in Lancashire. It wasn’t all work. Chris and his team-mates had time to stop and watch the rowing. One of the highlights was seeing Team GB rowers Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins win gold. Chris, a first year sports science student at Loughborough University described the atmosphere at Eton Dorney as “fantastic”. This was in part due to the friendly athletes. Veteran athlete Daley Thompson even posed for a snap with Chris. Daley won the decathlon gold medal at the Olympic Games of 1980 and then again in 1984. “Meeting Daley Thompson was amazing,” said Chris. “He was a really 210mm 147mm:Layout 8/10/12 Page 1 than I thought!” nice xguy, really down to1 earth and also12:35 a little smaller
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Archbishop Desmond Tutu speaks to Limelight!
B
eing part of the press for the night was such an amazing experience! Although I had to run all over Fairfield Halls taking pictures, running errands and interviewing special guests, just being in the same building as Archbishop Desmond Tutu left me feeling in awe! The event was also covered by The Croydon Guardian, The Croydon Advertiser, ITV and the BBC. The highlight of this spectacular evening event was the fact that from the outset different cultures were embraced through food, performances and speeches from various guest. The atmosphere was filled with friendliness and everyone seemed almost star struck at seeing Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who made references during the event to Ubuntu, a traditional African philosophy which favours reconciliation over revenge and living a life based around tolerance. The Archbishop often speaks about the importance of tolerance and inclusion. Speaking of the Olympics recently, he said: ‘These Olympics are saying everyone belongs, that’s fantastic!’ The 81-year-old, who rose to fame fighting apartheid in South Africa, spoke to the press before the Fairfield Halls event. When asked about last year’s Croydon riots, he said: ‘Croydon does
not have to be defined by the riots. ‘You should be able to say, yes, this is part of our history, but it is awakening in us an awareness of the needs of so many members of our community who have not always been top priority.’ ‘You can turn and make a new beginning. It is not where you come from that defines you – it’s where you are going.’ Discussing how divisions could be overcome in Croydon, the Archbishop said: ‘They can be overcome by getting to know people and knowing their traditions, not seeing them as the other whom you so easily exclude.’ The event was hosted by The Tutu Foundation UK, which aims to build peace in communities. The organisation has been offered £30,000 by Croydon Council to work with local organisations to help tackle gang and youth violence.
“These Olympics [were] saying everyone belongs, that’s fantastic!”
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The Archbishop with our very own Limelight!
Archbishop Desmond Tutu hosted a Conversations For Change event at Fairfield Halls, in Croydon, Surrey on Tuesday October 23. Chantelle Phinda went along to the event as part of the press team for Limelight and Croydon Xpress, a youth group run by Croydon Voluntary Action
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evin Samuels watched Usain Bolt cruise to victory in the 100m at the Olympic Stadium, last summer. Had the 17-year-old made different choices, he certainly wouldn’t have been watching the race in the magnificent stadium. “I could have been watching the race from prison,” he admitted. Kevin’s hometown, West Bromwich, near Birmingham, was affected by the riots which spread across England in August 2011. “The town centre was madness - I’d never seen anything like it,” he recalled. As Kevin witnessed shops being stripped of “anything people could get their hands on,” he had to make a choice. “Everything was there for the taking. I watched for a couple of hours. Then I thought…‘this isn’t right.’ I left and went home.” While Kevin was watching Usain Bolt sprint to victory, his friends as well as his older brother Chris were serving time. “I tried to tell Chris not to get involved [in the riots], but he did. You’d never think Chris would get into trouble as he got great grades at school.” Kevin’s friends and brother are serving a total of 10 years. The teenager felt the West Bromwich riots occurred due to socio-economic factors. “There’s nothing to look forward to, no excitement, no jobs, and you can’t afford the things you want.” It was a challenge not to get involved in the looting, so what made Kevin turn away? “My friend’s aren’t bad, and I’m not good. I just had more to lose, and people who believed in me,” he explained.
Kevin didn’t want to disappoint his supporters at Street Games, a national sports charity which enhances the lives of young people in disadvantaged communities. “I got involved with Street Games nearly two years ago and found out I was really good at the 200 metres.”
“I could have been watching the [Olympics] from prison”
Croydon College open eventS
In 2010, Kevin was unmotivated. “I used to think there’s nothing to gain in life and no goals to meet; I might as well go with the crowd.” Kevin’s mentor, sports development manager Rus Smith inspired him to change, but it was hard for him to break away from his old life, with many friends discouraging him from athletics. “I’d miss a day’s training, but when I got home, I’d be thinking: “This is not what I want.” Full of gratitude, Kevin said: “Street Games have got me to where I am now. I respect people more and I’m happy with myself.” Today, Kevin is an ambitious teenager. He combines volunteering for Street Games with a job in a visual arts centre, and is 32nd among young men under 20 in the 200m. Oh, and he’s aiming to beat Usain’s Bolt’s world record at the 2016 Olympics! Edited by Roxanne Mirza
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How To Excel L An Olym Do you want to find a great job, land a promotion or pass an exam with flying colours? Then follow Limelight’s top ten tips inspired by the strategies of Olympic champions and you’ll be well on your way to achieving what you desire and deserve... By Barbara Bielecka
Believe in yourself
Without it you have nothing, with it you are able to conquer anything and everything. Just read the words of one of the greatest female tennis players of all time - Venus Williams. “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does—that makes you a winner right there.” This gracious tennis stunner revealed that a great chunk of her success was down to her belief in her abilities and so take note and start believing in yourself.
Get up early
Follow the example of Ellie Simmonds who despite being born with achondroplasia dwarfism won her first gold medal at the age of 13! “I get up at 5:30am and do training from 6:00am-7:30am and then again after school between 3:30pm and 5:00pm, plus I do my homework.” So get up early every day and use your time wisely. Now we’re not suggesting that you get up as early as 5.30am, 6 or 7am is more reasonable as it will give you time to have a good healthy breakfast or fit in some homework before you head out the door to school or college .
Work hard
There’s no point taking short cuts if you want to be successful. Help yourself by putting in the hours and then going the extra mile. This is how Jessica Ennis went on to achieve a gold medal in the heptathlon at London 2012. “It wasn’t easy, but slowly I built up to train six days a week.” So what are you waiting for? Get off the sofa! Engage your brain and start working!
Champi
Get organised
Being able to plan and get organised is a skill most job interviewers look for in an employee. Just take diver Tom Daley who managed to get three As in his A levels, (with one being in maths!), despite training very hard for the Olympics. The 18-year-old recently said: “I train six days a week and have been combining my training with school.” Juggling two things is not easy but if Tom can do it then so can we!
Stay positive
Always look on the bright side of life and be an optimist. Trying to climb up the ladder of any career is a daunting task but seeing the glass half full is bound to make the process a little more pleasurable. Michael Phelps may seem indestructible but he too has his down days. He recently revealed that his 22 Olympic medals were not just down to his amazing physicality but also his ability to stay positive when training. “I wouldn’t say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it,” were the inspirational words of this Olympic legend.
Like mpic
ion
Get support
No matter how independent or strong you are, you can’t climb mountains by yourself. You need someone to push you on or give you a cuddle at the end of a gruelling day. Golden girl Jessica Ennis recently said: “I have got a lot of good people around me who support me through the low times and also the great times”. Whether it’s a family member or a friend, you always need that somebody who will help you through the storms and celebrate with you in your moments of glory.
Focus
This one is for all you daydreamers out there. When tired, sleepy or drowsy you may feel like dropping off into your own world but did you know that focus is one of the main characteristics of an Olympic athlete? Whether it’s on the starting blocks of the 100m or on the end of a 10m diving board…they can’t afford to have random thoughts buzzing in their heads. Just listen to the British tennis sensation Andy Murray. ‘To be able to win, first I have to focus.’ So take his advice, turn off EastEnders and work on achieving your goals!
Get hungry
No, we don’t mean stuff your face with food. We mean go all out to achieve your dream and never give up! Gold medallist Chris Hoy, when describing his training sessions said: “Though it hurts, your lungs are bursting and your legs are stinging, these sessions are the ones that count the most.”
Be humble
There’s no point in being cocky or arrogant because instead of attracting the right people you’ll act as a repellant to most of them. So, imitate double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah and be humble. Mo won over the world with his modest approach and respectful attitude to his competitors. “I always make a point of reminding myself that my opposition are strong and never easy to beat; I make sure I never underestimate the competition,” were the words of the courteous Olympic champion.
Eat well
We all love burgers, fries and fizzy drinks, but unfortunately, they’re all packed with sugar, salt and saturated fat, none of which are good for our brains, never mind our bodies. So, if we want to excel like an Olympic champion then we’ve got to ditch the junk, at least most of the time. Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell revealed that when she was training for the Games her lifestyle was quite strict because she couldn’t eat “rubbish food”.
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The Brilliantly British Quartet They toured with The Wanted, sold out gigs, got their single to No. 3 in the UK charts and did I mention that they’ve only been on the scene for about a year? To find out the secret to Lawson’s success, I called up Joel, the band’s lead guitarist, for a quick chat about their new album, their hectic lifestyles and the Olympic Games…
Special
By Barbara Bielecka
Limelight: Your single Taking Over Me reached No. 3 in the official UK singles chart. How did it feel, knowing it had done so well? Joel: To be honest, unbelievable! Limelight: You performed just before the men’s beach volleyball game at the Olympic Park. How did it feel performing at such an elite event? Joel: We felt absolutely privileged because we tried to watch it whenever we could, but to actually perform there was wicked. Limelight: What did you think of London 2012 in general? Joel: It was wicked because the whole of London got together and everyone was so excited. Limelight: What was the highpoint for you? Joel: The highpoint for me was when Chris Hoy got the gold in the cycling because we were in Hyde Park ready to go on stage and the crowd was overjoyed. Limelight: What has been the highlight of your career so far? Joel: It was playing to a large crowd alongside the likes of Coldplay, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, at Wembley Stadium. It was incredible, like a dream come true! Limelight: What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? Joel: We really want to spread our music to the rest of the world, “The Olympics especially to America because a lot of British artists are doing really well there. were wicked Limelight: You’ve had a very busy summer because the with T4 On The Beach, Hard Rock Calling, whole of London BT London Live, T In The Park, and V Festigot together and val. Do you manage to leave enough time for yourselves? everyone was so Joel:[ No], but we don’t really mind not having extra hours for ourselves, because we’re excited” having too much fun as performers. Limelight: I heard you’re going to be touring your home towns. Does that feel extra special? Joel: It really does. We’re all very proud of our roots and massively excited. I come from Nottingham and so it’ll be nice to get my family to see us perform there. Limelight: How old were you when you realized you had a passion for music? Joel: Well, I started playing the guitar around the age of 10. As soon
as I picked it up I realized that I didn’t want to do anything else. Limelight: What is your favourite genre of music? Joel: I like Pop-Rock and the American country scene at the moment. Limelight: What hidden talents do you have? Joel: I ‘m quite a good cook. I cook the meals for all the boys because we all live together. Limelight: What advice would you give young people hoping to make it big in the music industry? Joel: My advice is to do as many gigs as you can and put your music on YouTube. You need to throw yourself out there. The reason we got signed is because someone saw our cover of Bruno Mars’s Grenade on MySpace. When a new album came out that we really liked we would do covers of it and when people searched for the covers on YouTube we slowly built up the views. QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
Jessica Ennis or Victoria Pendleton Jessica Ennis – I’m not sure why though Mo Farah or Usain Bolt It’s got to be Usain Bolt - he’s a legend Chris Hoy or Bradley Wiggins Chris Hoy - just for the moment in Hyde Park Gymnastics or Judo Judo. A bit of fighting is always great Coca-Cola or Pepsi Coca-Cola Adidas or Nike Adidas, because I used to wear the shoes McDonalds or Burger King Burger King, because they have better chips
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Chillin’ with Liz Lawrence! Limelight’s Chantelle Phinda had a chat (and a coffee) with the lovely Liz Lawrence right after her performance at the Olympic Park, during London 2012. Liz, 22, chats about the Olympics, her career and offers advice to aspiring artists
Limelight: So Liz, you just performed at the Olympic Park, how was it? Liz: Yeah, it was so nice. Lots of families were there, the sun was out and we were playing on a stage that there is only one of in the whole world, apparently. Limelight: Have you been watching the Olympics? Liz: Yeah, I have been watching it. I really enjoyed the men’s 100m final and the pole vault because it’s just weird! I mean, these people can get themselves over a pole on a bendy stick. It’s crazy! Limelight: Who are you signed to? Liz: Sony, but I was previously signed to EMI. Limelight: It’s so hard to get signed these days and you’ve managed to get signed twice! Liz: The way I see it is that you have to bet on every horse if you want to win. There are no guarantees in life and no such thing as good luck; you have to make things happen for yourself. But getting signed isn’t necessarily the only way forward these days; a lot of people are doing it on their own – which I think is great. Limelight: So, who inspired you to be a singer? Liz: I loved Michael Jackson when I was a kid, but to be honest, it wasn’t a person who inspired me, it was more the fact I was quite quiet at school and the only way I could be really confident was to get on stage and lose myself a little bit. I knew this because when I was about 2 I started a band, with my friends. When we started playing to an audience of family and friends, I was like, ‘I love this’. Limelight: Which UK artists do you like? Liz: Well, I really like Laura Marling; I think she’s got real talent. I also like a lot of the British electro dance music. Limelight: What were your ambitions ten years ago? Liz: Ten years ago I was 12 and I wanted to be a football player. Were you a bit of a tomboy? I was, but also ten years ago, I just wanted to get through school, one step at a time. Limelight: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time? Liz: Oh wow… New York, Berlin and Tokyo playing my new electric guitar. Limelight: What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into the music industry? Liz: I’d advise against doing a pop music course at university; it’s just a waste of money. I’d start a band, write songs, meet people and work hard!!
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Limelight: Is there anyone that you would like to collaborate with? Liz: Yeah. I would absolutely love to collaborate with Paul Simon; that would be amazing. I’d also love to collaborate with Rizzle Kicks, I think we could write a good tune together. Limelight: How would you describe yourself and your music? Liz: My music doesn’t represent the person I am now . I wrote a lot of it when I was 18 or 19 and finished it when I ‘d just turned 21. That was over a year ago now and I feel like I’ve changed a lot. So I’d say my music is a lot sweeter than maybe I am now. Limelight: If you could say anything to your lovely fans what would it be? Liz: I’d be like, ‘Yeah, thanks, you’re amazing’ because when you’re on the road you need people to come and see you play so you can afford to go to the next show. I’d also tell them I’m nothing without them. Limelight: How would you describe your music? Liz: Honest, heartfelt, quite colourful, independent, old fashioned, but that’s only now. In three years I might say something quite different. Limelight: So you said you went to university, which one? Liz: I went to a very small uni up in Devon called Dartington, to study art. It got shut down during my second year and so I left. I did have the option of going to another university, but I decided to concentrate on my music.
Quickfire Questions Forever 21 or Primark Forever 21 Blackberry or IPhone IPhone Nike or Converse Converse Twilight or Harry Potter Harry Potter Pizza Hut or Nando’s Pizza Hut
Nicola Adams makes boxing history! She ducked and dodged her way into the final and knocked down her opponent to become the first woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. Now Nicola is looking forward to the Commonwealth Games and Rio 2016. Roxanne Mirza and Barbara Bielecka caught up with Nicola for a chat at US Girls Rocks London, an event organised by national sports charity Street Games Limelight: How does it feel to be the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing? Nicola: It feels good; all the hard work and training I’ve put in has all added up to something. Limelight: What was going through your head when you received the medal? Nicola: I was so happy, excited and overwhelmed that I’d done it and finally beaten my main rival. She beat me in two world finals and so it was good to win a gold medal against her in the Olympics. Limelight: We heard that you were inspired by Muhammad Ali to become a boxer, is this true? Nicola: Yes, it’s true. I grew up watching his old boxing matches. He was really inspiring. Limelight: How did you keep yourself going through the strenuous training sessions? Nicola: It was the thought of winning, because I don’t like losing. Limelight: Do you have any other hobbies? Nicola: Just the normal things: going clubbing, playing PlayStation and snowboarding. Limelight: What sacrifices did you have to make in preparation for the Olympics. Nicola: Quite a lot. Before the Olympics started I was away from my family for ten weeks. I couldn’t really speak to my family members and changed my mobile phone number so that I couldn’t be contacted. It was pretty tense, but I don’t really see what I had to do as a sacrifice, but more of a choice, so that I could win and be successful. Limelight: What advice would you give to young girls eager to soar to the same heights as you?
“
When I’m warming up and trying to get focused my motto is ‘be fast, be first, be the best…and look good’
Nicola: Try out activities at your local gym or sports club because you never know where what you try out may lead. Limelight: If you weren’t a boxer what would you do? Nicola: I used to be an extra on Coronation Street and Emmerdale and so probably acting. Limelight: Who has been your biggest support? Nicola: Definitely my mum and my brother who have been there for me through thick and thin. Limelight: Many people think women should not be boxing. How does this make you feel? Nicola: I just see boxing as a sport I like and don’t really care what anybody else thinks. I’ve always had that attitude and it led me to where I am today. Limelight: Do you think female boxers enjoy greater equality? Nicola: Before there wasn’t equality in my sport. We didn’t have enough female boxers to make it equal and it was almost frowned upon to see girls boxing, but now we’re welcome into the boxing ring. We competed in the Olympic Games for the first time, the funding is equal and we train alongside [our male counterparts] and so it’s come a long way. Limelight: Do you have a saying that motivates you? Nicola: When I’m warming up and trying to get focused my motto is ‘be fast, be first, be the best…and look good’.
Quickfire Questions
”
Tennis or volleyball Tennis because I’m quite a big fan of the sport. Victoria Pendleton or Jessica Ennis Jessica Ennis because we train at the same center in Sheffield. I’ve seen how hard she works and it was nice to see her get that gold. Chris Hoy or Tom Daley Chris Hoy because I met him just before the closing ceremony and had a good talk with him. He’s achieved so much in cycling and I want to do the same in boxing. Opening or closing ceremony Opening. I didn’t really like the closing ceremony because we had to stand up for five hours!
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“ Success
By the Limelight team: Chantelle Phinda, Peter Bint, Nicola Maggot Pope , Elizabeth Adelusi, Roxanne Mirza, Barbara Bielecka, Terrelle Iziren, Roxana Hall and Zain Abidin
Limelight were given a golden opportunity for this special issue. We had the privilege of interviewing British award-winning actor and director Noel Clarke, face to-face. The man behind Kidulthood, Adulthood, 4.3.2.1 and most recently Fast Girls, chatted about fame, a few of his favourite films and much more……
L
imelight: Did you plan for your Olympics themed film Fast Girls to come out around the same time as the Games came to London? Noel: Unless you’re like Stephen Spielberg you don’t decide when your films come out, the film studio does. Damian Jones produced Fast Girls and so it wasn’t my film. He had been asking me to write Fast Girls since 2006 and eventually I said yes. Limelight: You played Mickey in Doctor Who for five years and Wyman in Auf Wiedershen, Pet for two years. When you started your acting career 13 years ago did you ever think you would become a BAFTA award winning actor and director? Noel: You have to believe, otherwise why would you do it? You can’t doubt yourself, so the answer to that is yes I believed I could get there, so I put the work in. Limelight: Did you base the Kidulthood storyline around your experiences as a teenager
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living in London? Noel: I wrote the script for Kidulthood probably in 2000. When I was growing up there was less gun violence so the uncle Curtis character, in Kidulthood, was fiction; but the boys hanging out, the bullies and a few other things, were all based on me and my two friends Phillip and Jon Paul. Limelight: What has been the hardest part of your career so far? Noel: The hardest part of my career is the work rate. What I mean by that is for every film you see that comes out there are six scripts that didn’t get made sitting on my laptop. That’s the sort of effort you have to put in to get one film off the ground, and so that’s really the hardest part. Limelight: What do you hope to achieve in the next 10 years? Noel: I have goals and ambitions, but nothing that I talk about. I’m not a greedy man; I just want to pay my bills and make sure I can
keep doing what I love. Limelight: What advice would you give to young people who hope to make it big in the film industry? Noel: The best advice I can give is: ‘Work hard’. Success is not achieved by giving 100 per cent and meeting your deadlines, it’s about beating your deadlines and giving more than you need to. Limelight: If you hadn’t become a director what would you be doing now? Noel: If I had followed what I studied at the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University), which was media, then a journalist or a director, eventually. The other answer is I’d be a gigolo. Limelight: LOL (laugh out loud). Noel: You laugh, but I’m serious. Limelight: You’ve written, starred in and directed films, but which of the films you’ve been involved in most reflects you as a person and which is closest to your heart?
Quickfire Questions
“
Success is not achieved by giving 100 per cent and meeting your deadlines, it’s about beating your deadlines and giving more than you need to
Usain Bolt or Mo Farah Usain Bolt Jessica Ennis or Lolo Jones Jessica Ennis Andy Murray or Roger Federer Andy Murray McDonalds or Burger King McDonalds Tom Daley or Gemma Gibbons Gemma Gibbons
”
Noel: I’d have to say Adulthood reflects me most as a person, because Sam, the character I played, wasn’t really a bad guy. He came out of jail and was still quite angry, but some of the things he said were humorous, a quality which kind of reflects me as a person. The film closest to my heart is 4.3.2.1, because everyone wanted me to do another ‘hood’ film, which would have pigeon-holed me and probably ended my career. But 4.3.2.1 changed that and showed people that I don’t have to do those films. Limelight: What are the advantages of being a film director? Noel: Advantages? Not many, man. You’d think there’d be loads, but I’m not one of those guys who goes to all the premieres and takes loads of free stuff. I go to a few premieres, but only if I really want to see the film. I know people who always turn up at everything and brag about what they got
and what party they’ve been to, but that’s not me. I’m not interested in being famous, I’m not interested in going to parties and being snapped by the paparazzi. I’ve been offered free cars and I’m like ‘I don’t want your cars’, because when I was poor and needed one you didn’t want to give me anything and so I don’t want your cars! Limelight: What kind of films do you watch in your spare time? Noel: Anything! I like lots of films. I couldn’t really give a favourite, but Pulp Fiction is one of my favourites and so is Amélie. It’s a really good film; if you haven’t seen it, you should watch it. Limelight: Did you enjoy the Olympics and did they make you feel proud to be British? Noel: Well, if I’m honest, I didn’t really care about all the hype during the build-up to the Games. There are lots of reasons why I’ve never really felt British even though
I was born here….. Small things such as not seeing people on TV and in films who represent me. But when the Olympics were actually on, I really got into them and loved them. I loved that Team GB was multicultural and multiracial. I think London did better than everyone expected. Limelight: You went to the Olympics? Noel: Yeah, I saw the beach volleyball. Limelight: Men’s or women’s? Noel: The women’s obviously! Limelight: What was the highlight of the Olympics for you? Noel: If I had to choose, then I would say Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis winning their gold medals. I watched the Olympics every day and thought, ‘this is good’; everyone did the country proud. It was one of the few times in a long time, if ever, I’ve gone ‘you know what?, I feel British!’ LimeLight 15
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Mo Farah’s now famous pose What a year it has been for Olympic megastar Mo Farah. He has witnessed the birth of his two beautiful twin daughters and won not one but two gold medals for running in the 5,000m and 10,000m. His humble and respectful approach has warmed the country’s heart and made him a national hero. Spotted by his dedicated PE teacher, the Somalian-born Arsenal fan has worked incredibly hard and now deserves his place at the crest of his sport!
Limelight: First of all, let us congratulate you on your amazing performance at London 2012. How does it feel to be an Olympic champion? Mo: Thank you. It’s the best feeling. It’s everything I dreamed of and wanted, and now it’s happened. I think it’s still sinking in a bit, if I’m honest. Limelight: Your wife has recently given birth to your twins. How does it feel having two beautiful daughters? Mo: I feel very blessed. The last few months have been special for me. Limelight: What sacrifices have you had to make in preparation for the Olympics? Mo: The biggest sacrifice is being away from my family for long periods. I have attended training camps in Kenya and France and this has meant I have been away for weeks at a time. Limelight: What kept you going through the gruelling training sessions? Where did you get the power from to not give up? Mo: Thinking about crossing the finishing line first in the Olympic Stadium is what kept me going. You have to work hard to get your rewards and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy so I had to keep pushing my“I can’t do normal self. Limelight: When you won things any more like go to the shops or the your first Olympic gold, how did it feel? park. But I have had Mo: Shock, excitement, hapsome fun on TV shows piness, relief, so many emoand going to awards tions. Limelight: Do you have any
evenings”
other passions apart from running? Mo: I like football. I’m a big fan of Arsenal. But I also like just being able to chill out and spend time with my family. Limelight: What did you expect London 2012 to be like and did it exceed your expectations? Mo: I expected it to be good. Having a home Olympics was always going to be special “Having a home but I don’t think any of us were prepared for how Olympics was always going to be special, but incredible it was. I know that running in the stadiI don’t think any of us um I experienced scenes were prepared for how that have never been seen before. The noise of the incredible it was” crowd was incredible and really did make a difference. Limelight: What can we expect from Mo Farah in the future? Mo: There are still things for me to achieve. I will discuss my future with my family and coach but I think I will definitely run a marathon one day. Limelight: How does it feel having all this media attention around you? Mo: It takes a bit of getting used to. I can’t do normal things any more like go to the shops or the park. But I have had some fun on TV shows and going to awards evenings. Limelight: What words of advice would you give to young aspiring athletes who hope to achieve the same heights as you? Mo: Work hard, keep pushing yourself and believe. By Barbara Bielecka
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Limelight team on Daybreak’s famous sofa
Limelight team members pictured with Daybreak presenter Helen Fospero
Peter poses with gold medallist Joanna in Daybreak’s green room
LIMELIGHT AT DAYBREAK DURING THE OLYMPICS Limelight’s Peter Bint appeared on Daybreak in August and days later the rest of the magazine team were invited to tour the programme’s studio - an opportunity we just had to take up! By Barbara Bielecka and Roxana Hall LimeLight 20
T
he Limelight team were ready for a tour like no other, after stepping into ITV’s 21 storey building, which is home to Daybreak. Once we signed in at the reception, we waited quietly for our tour guides – producer Luke Pearson and programme assistant Jade Worsley, who work for Daybreak. While waiting we ran into a familiar face - Helen Fospero, the Daybreak presenter, who despite
leaving school at 17 managed to work her way up to the top of her very competitive profession. Helen started her career at a local weekly newspaper and eventually moved to television news, working first for Sky News , then GMTV and now Daybreak. We couldn’t resist the temptation to cheekily ask Helen to take a picture with us and luckily she said yes! Not long after this exciting opportunity wrapped up, Luke and Jade arrived and then we filed into a lift, psyched up to explore the famous Daybreak studio. Af-
ter the lift reached our destination, Luke guided us through a labyrinth of corridors, which led to the studio. En route we wandered into the green room where all guests relax before going live on air. We also got a chance to pop into the dressing room of Dan Lobb, the TV presenter, who was working for Daybreak at the time we toured it. The dressing room of Daybreak “queen” Lorraine Kelly was next door, but Luke banned us from taking a sneak peak inside it! On entering the famous Daybreak studio we expected
JADE’S SUCCESS
STORY
huge open spaces and luxurious furniture but instead we witnessed a smallish area with countless lights hanging from the ceiling and cameras worth tens of thousands of pounds sitting in corners. Luke explained that the studio is exaggerated to look larger on our TV screens. While we tried out the iconic red sofa, Luke shared about the exciting world of television, but also the nightmares of night shifts and how they can get you down. Thankfully the cafes in the building offer free coffee for everyone who works there!
After the studio tour, we visited the control room and found out that a tea spill on one of the control panels is enough to create a catastrophic meltdown of the system. We also briefly viewed central London from the balcony next to the control room and then said our farewells. We left the ITV building with vital information and new knowledge to share with our friends and family. It was an unforgettable experience that will always linger in our minds.
What do you achieve with hard work and a degree? Amazing opportunities and the job of your dreams was the answer for lucky Nottingham Trent graduate Jade Worsley, who this summer was given the chance to interview the mums of Olympians Rebecca Adlington, Chris Hoy, Louis Smith and Jessica Ennis, for Daybreak. “It was so amazing,” said Jade. “They were all so lovely and proud of their children’s achievements.” Jade’s dream had always been to work in the ever so popular world of media, and now her ambition has become a reality as she finds herself working in the centre of it all - as a programme assistant on Daybreak. “I love the fact my job is so spontaneous,” were the words of the energetic 22-year -old, who kept up her liveliness even when describing the gruelling 8pm-9am nightshifts. “Even though the work may be tiring, it’s what I love doing,” said Jade, who joined Daybreak last year, just after completing a degree in broadcast journalism. Jade’s role at Daybreak involves not only interviewing, but making sure all the guests, including high profile ones such as One Direction, get to the studio on time. Revealing her motto for media success - “it’s who you know AND what you know” - Jade acts as an inspiration to all young people because of her astonishing accomplishments in such a short space of time. By Barbara Bielecka and Chantelle Phinda
Jade with boy band One Direction
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London has come a long way since hosting the Olympics for the first time in 1908. Performing better than ever before, Team GB came third in the medal table behind the USA and China, with a grand total of 65 medals – 29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze. Britain’s Paralympians also came third behind China and Russia in the medal table, with an impressive 120 medals – 34 gold, 43 silver and 43 bronze. Here are 16 highlights from the Olympic and Paralympic Games – moments filled with emotional triumph and exhilaration Michael Phelps Every stroke taken while swimming at London 2012 was exhilarating for the now retired Michael Phelps as he dug deep and found gold – not once but four times during the Games. Tears of joy trickled down Michael’s face as he waved an emotional farewell to his supporters, leaving behind a legacy of 22 medals (18 gold, two silver, two bronze), and the Best Olympian of All Time Award, attained through his participation in only four Olympics. All this and he’s still only 27.
THE GREATEST MOMENTS
Ellie Simmonds Golden girl Ellie Simmonds, who has a form of dwarfism, won four medals and broke two world records at London 2012. She won two gold medals in the S6 400m freestyle and SM6 200m individual medley. Ellie won silver in the S6 100m freestyle and bronze in the S6 50m freestyle. She came to national attention when competing in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, winning two gold medals for Great Britain at the tender age of 13.
Jonnie Peacock Sprinting at top speed with the crowd chanting his name, Jonnie Peacock, whose right leg was amputated below the knee, after he contracted meningitis at 5, won the T44 100m, in a record breaking time of 10.9 seconds. His gold medal victory was particularly sweet because he beat his hero, the super talented Oscar Pistorius.
Andy Murray Jumping for joy and punching the air with his racket, Andy Murray declared victory over his rival Roger Federer, after winning Olympic gold in the men’s singles final at Wimbledon. Andy, 25, is the first British tennis player to win an Olympic gold medal since Josiah Ritchie in 1908.
Helen Glover and Heather Stanning Having taken up rowing just four years ago, these were Helen Glover’s first Olympics. Even so, Helen, 26 and army Captain Heather Stanning, 27, walked away as Britain’s first ever female gold medal winners in rowing and won Team GB’s first gold medal at London 2012. They were not only applauded by crowds here in London, but also cheered on by Heather’s colleagues in Afghanistan..
Jonathan Fox Plymouth-born Jonathan Fox (21) nicknamed ‘the Fearless Fox’, claimed gold in the 100m backstroke. He did so in a time of 1 min 10.46 seconds, just falling short of his previous world record. Unbelievably, Jonathan suffers from cerebral palsy, which restricts his movement, making his win all the more awe-inspiring.
Natalie Du Toit United on the podium with two British athletes, South Africa’s Natalie Du Toit took gold swimming in the women’s individual 200m medley. She also won two other gold medals for swimming. The loss of her leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001 has not prevented Natalie, 30, from winning a total of 15 medals in three consecutive Olympics.
David Weir Going wild after crossing the finish line, the unstoppable David Weir aka “The Weirwolf ” obtained his third gold medal during London 2012 in the men’s 800m race to become the world’s leading wheelchair athlete. David, 33, then went on to make it a quartet in the men’s marathon.
David Rudisha Pointing proudly to his record time of 1:40.91, Kenya’s David Rudisha, 23, proved a challenge to fellow competitors in an event said to be “the greatest 800m race ever”.
Chris Hoy With six Olympic gold medals and one silver medal to his name, Sir Chris Hoy has replaced Sir Steve Redgrave as Britain’s most successful Olympian ever. Inspired to cycle by the film ET at the age of six, Chris, 35, has since that time clearly achieved amazing performances and outstanding results. Brownlee Brothers Arms waving in the air after crossing the finish line, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee swam, cycled and ran across Hyde Park. For all their best efforts, Alistair, 24 and Jonathan, 22 claimed gold and bronze respectively in the triathlon.
Ben Ainslie Ben Ainslie’s confidence is the key to his success. At London 2012 he won his fourth Olympic gold medal and became the first person ever to win medals for sailing in five different Olympics. Ben was given the honour of carrying the British flag at the Olympics’ closing ceremony, rounding off what many consider to have been a spectacular London 2012 for British athletics.
Mo Farah As he crossed the finish line for the 10,000 and 5,000m races, distance runner and family man Mohamed ‘Mo’ Farah, 29, won double gold; one for each of his new-born twin baby girls, saying that if he only got one, the other “would be left out” Adding to that, the epic expression Mo displayed when crossing the finish line for the 5,000m has earned him his own blog page, ‘Mo Farah running away from things’, made by a graphic designer wanting to recreate this glorious moment in a humorous way.
Ruta Meilutyte Extremely proud and emotional, Ruta won Lithuania’s first Olympic gold medal at the women’s 100m breaststroke. The shock of a 15-year-old winning in an event like London 2012 took the world by surprise. Being at school and among family and friends with a gold medal must be a great feeling.
Usain Bolt Jamaica’s bolt of lightning flashed down the track in the 400m relay and the 100m and 200m sprints, setting a world record along the way and absolutely demolishing his opponents’ hopes. Towering above all at 1.95m, Usain St. Leo Bolt struck his signature pose among screaming fans, after his epic victories. Though known for being carefree and a practical joker, Usain, 26, has come a long way from the village grocery store run by his family to become the fastest man on earth.
Sarah Storey We all know how difficult it is to cycle without holding one of the bars. Well, that didn’t stop Sarah Storey coming first in the individual pursuit C5, despite having no function in her left hand, after her arm became entangled in the umbilical cord at birth. Sarah has now won a total of 22 medals in six Olympic Games. Sarah, 35, also competes against non-disabled athletes and won the 3 km national track pursuit championship in 2008, eight days after taking the Paralympic title.
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JOANNA ROWSELL’S REMARKABLE STORY Hands up if you’re a keen cyclist! That should be almost everyone. Now hands up if you think you can win a gold medal in Rio 2016. Joanna Rowsell also started out as a keen cyclist, like you guys and worked her way up to achieve Olympic gold! Barbara Bielecka quizzed Joanna on her eating habits, her addiction to fitness, her Olympic experience and much more…..
Limelight: Firstly, let me congratulate you on have nothing to compare it to, but I thought your amazing performance at the Olympic it was a great experience and I really enjoyed living in the Olympic Village! Games. How does it feel to be “You don’t Limelight: What was your favorite an Olympic champion? Joanna: It feels amazing. My get anywhere event apart from cycling? team and I have worked for so without hard Joanna: I liked the athletics; watching Mo Farah was my favorite. many years and we have finally Limelight: How did you feel holding done it. I am over the moon! It work” your Olympic gold medal? took a while for [our victory] to sink in and so I am partly relieved, but Joanna: I had to pinch myself to let myself know that it was real! On the podium, it mainly very happy. Limelight: What did you think of the Olym- didn’t really sink in, and so I was just trying to absorb the atmosphere and make the most pic Games as a whole? Joanna: It definitely exceeded my expecta- of that moment, because we are never going tions; it was absolutely spectacular. I was re- to have a home Olympic Games again during ally impressed with the organisation, because my career. It was really overwhelming. everything went really smoothly and specta- Limelight: Cycling is a very tough sport, andtors have told me that their experiences have so how do you manage with the hard workbeen very good. There were a lot of worries outs and the gruelling training sessions? about transport, but it all went very well. Joanna: I really enjoy training and making London 2012 was my first Olympics and so I my body the best it can be. I am addicted to LimeLight 24
exercise. Even if I wasn’t an athlete I would still go to the gym and keep fit. For me, it’s all about pushing myself to see how good I can be. Limelight: What sacrifices did you have to make in preparation for the Olympics? Joanna: My lifestyle was quite strict because I couldn’t eat rubbish food, I had to get early nights and going out properly with friends only happened once a year, unlike for some people my age (24). But I wouldn’t call these sacrifices because I have an Olympic gold medal and it’s the reward in the end. Limelight: Do you have any inspirations? Joanna: I am inspired by Bradley Wiggins. I started cycling in 2004, the year he won three cycling medals at the Athens Olympics. He is someone that I look up to and like me he’s a Londoner. Limelight: What makes a good British athlete?
To find out more about Joanna, visit: joannarowsell.com You can also follow her on twitter @JoannaRowsell
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
“ I thought the Olympics were absolutely spectacular
”
Joanna: An athlete who is very professional and works very hard. You don’t get anywhere without hard work. Limelight: If you weren’t a cyclist, what would you be? Joanna: I have always wanted to go to university to study natural sciences and so I would have gone into research. Limelight: What do you hope to achieve next? Joanna: My next big target is the Commonwealth Games, which is just under two years away. After that my target is performing well at Rio 2016. Limelight: Who are your biggest supporters? Joanna: I would have to say my family, especially my dad and my boyfriend. They are always on the end of the phone when I need to speak to somebody and [often] at my races. When I am doing my hard training, my boyfriend in particular helps me by cooking my meals and looking after me at home. It may
sound childish, but as an athlete it is one of the most important things. You have to train, but also rest and recover. Limelight: Do you have any hidden talents? Joanna: I don’t think so. I am certainly not very good at singing or anything like that, but I am quite good at eating because people say that I eat a lot and so I might be good in an eating competition! Limelight: Do you have motto or a saying that motivates you? Joanna: I always say: ‘Keep the faith’ and so whenever anything is going bad or if I have an injury or an illness and even when other people doubt me I always say: ‘Keep the faith’. It basically means ‘believe in yourself ’, because if you don’t you will never get anywhere in life. Limelight: Did your family influence your decision to become a professional cyclist or was it a decision you made yourself?
Gymnastics or judo Gymnastics - it’s nice to watch! McDonalds or KFC McDonalds, as I haven’t had KFC in years Volleyball or tennis Tennis, because I know more about the sport Mo Farah or Chris Hoy Chris Hoy’ because I know him really well and he the most genuine, nicest man you could meet. He has time for everyone and will always give you good advice Jessica Ennis or Victoria Pendleton Jessica Ennis. She was the face of the Games and had to deal with a lot of pressure. It’s amazing how well she did at her first Olympics with all that pressure Opening or closing ceremony The closing ceremony because I didn’t go to the opening one. I particularly liked the Spice Girls [as] I was a big Spice Girls’ fan when I was little. Overall, the closing ceremony had a great variety of music and so I really enjoyed it
Joanna: It was a decision I made myself, but how I got into cycling is a bit of a weird story because it was purely by chance. When I was 15, British Cycling sent talent scouts to my school to find future potential talent. I was very eager to have a go and as I carried on I got better and better. I’m glad I kept going because now I’ve got an Olympic gold medal to show for my efforts! Limelight: What advice would you give to young people who hope to achieve the same heights as you? Joanna: Take every opportunity because you never know where it may lead and always believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself you will achieve great things, but if you don’t then you will never make it.
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The royals officially open University Centre Croydon
Prince Charles greets Frances Wadsworth, the Principal of Croydon College
Can you imagine the royals visiting your college? Well, Their Royal Highnessess the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Croydon College on September 20 to mark the opening of University Centre Croydon By Peter Bint
Prince Charles with a student at the construction stand
Students meet and greet Croydon College’s VIP visitors!
T
he visit began with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall receiving a warm greeting from staff and a crowd of excited students on College Road, where the College’s main building is located. After chatting to the students, the couple then entered the College and made their way up to the fabulously refurbished fourth floor, where students displayed their work. The Duchess of Cornwall applied make-up to a young lady at a stand showcasing the College’s hairdressing and beauty therapy courses, while Prince Charles visited the construction stand and observed some of the work created by young students. Eventually, Their Royal Highnesses got together and made crepes with the help of some young budding cooks. The royal couple also had a meeting with eight students to find out what they had achieved and the cause and effects of the Croydon riots. The meeting’s attendees included David Mullane, a former Croydon College engineering student, who was voted Croydon’s Top Role Model, last year, for his dedication to helping disabled young children and volunteering as a football coach.
Frances Wadsworth, Croydon College’s Principal and Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely grateful to have Their Royal Highnesses visit to mark this prestigious event. “The University Centre Croydon is a tremendous asset to the community, offering affordable, accessible and prestigious degrees, validated by the University of Sussex – one of Britain’s best universities.” Their Royal Highnesses last visited Croydon shortly after the town’s riots in August 2011, where some of the harshest images of the riots were of historic furniture shop, House of Reeves going up in flames. Before visiting Croydon College the royal couple had a chance to meet Croydon shop keepers, residents and faith leaders to discuss the progress made since the riots.
Peter Bint is a Limelight reporter who turned his life around after being jailed for last year’s Croydon riots. His inspiring story has been reported in The Evening Standard, The Croydon Guardian and The Croydon Advertiser. Peter, who works for Limelight at its base in Croydon College, has also been interviewed by the BBC and ITV’s Daybreak. To see Peter share his uplifting story on Daybreak please visit the home page of limelightmag.co.uk
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As a Christian my inspiration for life and what I do comes from my belief in Jesus
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Chantelle James with
JAMES DASAOLU ON CHASING HIS DREAM James Dasaolu, the Olympic 100m sprinter, took up athletics seriously in 2006 – six years later he represented Great Britain at London 2012. In October, James was the special guest speaker at Young People’s Question Time, an event organised by Croydon Council and hosted by Croydon College. Chantelle Phinda met up with him at the event and he later revealed to Limelight his inspiration and plans for the future. He also offered a few wise words of advice for Limelight readers who aim to pursue a career in athletics Limelight: What was it like competing at London 2012? James: It was a dream come true. I wanted to compete in the Olympics ever since I started [running] at 18. It’s an experience I will never forget. Limelight: When you weren’t doing last minute training did you manage to catch any of the Olympic events on TV? James: Yes, I was able to see some cycling and swimming events. Limelight: What was the best part of London 2012 for you? James: Competing in the Olympic Stadium. Limelight: Do you plan on competing at Rio 2016? James: Yes, I do. I want to be able to keep going until the Olympic Games in 2020. Limelight: Who inspires you and why? James: As a Christian, my inspiration for life and what I do comes from my belief in Jesus. Limelight: What advice would you give to young people who want to pursue a career in athletics?
James: I believe it’s never too late to start track; in fact I was a late starter, but still I got to represent my country at the Olympics. Track is all about progression, things don’t happen overnight. You have to sometimes be patient with sports and keeping working at it. Limelight: Did you always dream of being an athlete? James: I’ve always loved sports and I really wanted to be footballer when I was younger, but I love being an athlete [now]. Limelight: What sacrifices have you had to make in order to be a successful athlete? James: I don’t get to see my family as much as I would like, as I live quite a long way from them, in Loughborough. Also, I am restricted on what kind of food I can eat. Limelight: How often do you train for athletic events such as the Olympics? James: When I started track at 18, I trained twice a week, but now it’s five days a week. LimeLight 27
Limelight got four free tickets from national sports charity Street Games to see Paralympians in action on Sunday September 2 2012. The magazine’s designer Shaun Marcelle, writers Peter Bint and Barbara Bielecka, along with editorial director Adeline Iziren, spent nearly 13 hours of sheer bliss at the Olympic Park. Peter Bint and Barbara Bielecka report on the exhilarating day
Crowds outside the Olympic Stadium Amazing, exciting and fun are the best words to describe the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Even at 9am on the train heading for Stratford, home of the Olympic Park, you could see the smiles of patriotic British fans, some draped in the Union Jack, as they anticipated a day of pure entertainment. Stepping into the Olympic Park, I felt excited and privileged to be a part of the crowd who all seemed to be just as electrified as I was. The Olympic Park, where wasteland once stood had been completely transformed into a beautiful venue. All thrilled and ready to go, we rushed to the Olympic Stadium - the centre point of the Olympic Park - but were a little disappointed when we were refused entry, because our tickets didn’t give us access to it. With that down point out of the way, the only way was up…and up it went! My first experience of the Paralympics was the Wheelchair basketball… and boy did I enjoy it! It was quick, interesting, captivating; all that you would want in a sport. Buzzed up by the crowd both Adeline and I sat through two games in a row before deciding to rejoin Peter and Shaun to watch goalball. I ‘d never heard of goalball before and didn’t know what to expect. After sitting through a game, mixed thoughts were shared about the experience. While Peter and Shaun found it a little tedious, and Adeline fell asleep, I sat amazed by how many different sports the Paralympic Games had covered. For readers who don’t know the game, goalball is a tactical sport which includes skill and strength. There are three players a-side and the aim of the game is to get the ball into a wide goal post. Sounds quite easy? Well, it’s not as simple as it sounds because all the players are visually impaired and blind folded; their only guidance is a small bell inside the ball.
Barbara with wheelchair tennis player Dave Phillipson LimeLight 22
“The Olympic Stadium looked amazing and made me feel proud of Britain”
Wheelchair basketball game Next stop, wheelchair tennis. A little dissatisfied with having to sit in the unsheltered part of the seating area, I quickly put this feeling aside to watch the Japan vs. Argentina game. I knew there was a missing piece to the day but I couldn’t figure out what it was until the British boys Alexander Jewitt and Dave Phillipson made their way on to the court. What I failed to have yet experienced was the sheer bliss and adrenaline rush that comes from getting wholeheartedly behind one team. When the match began, you could feel the elation in the air and every time Britain got a point an immense roar boomed out from the crowds. To my delight, Britain won that game against Switzerland and we were fortunate to get a chance to take photos with the winners. After an overpriced evening meal of fish and chips, we headed back to the basketball arena. It was late and we were lucky to get front seats for the Spain vs Turkey game. It was enjoyable and diverting but I couldn’t help but think that this would be my last live Paralympic game in London. After Spain’s victory, we all decided to go home, but not before revisiting the Olympic Stadium. Approaching the coliseum, I was lucky to rush through unchecked and take a few cheeky snaps. The colossal stadium looked amazing and made me feel proud of Britain. The London Olympic and Paralympic Games had a personal touch. Even the volunteers, many of whom I assume worked for free, smiled all day and even when it got late and cool, they were still smiling and even singing along with the general public! Leaving the park I felt cheerful, delighted and amused, but also a little sad, for I knew the Olympic and Paralympic Games will not return to the UK for a very long time.
The GB vs Switzerland wheelchair tennis game
Peter poses in the Audi R8 parked in Stratford’s Westfield Shopping Centre
Wow! Atmosphere amazing, events amazing and, well, everything was amazing lol. I went to the Paralympic Games and it was one of the best days of my life for the sheer fact that it was the Olympics and I had a chance to go. The train journey to the Olympic Park in Stratford felt long and arduous, even though it only took an hour from East Croydon. So many people were dressed in sports gear and all I was dressed in were my trousers, shirt and shoes lol. To get to the Olympic Park, you had to go through Westfield Shopping Centre, where I saw an amazing Audi R8. The man guarding the car said no one was allowed to sit in it, but after a little persuasion and showing him the work I did as a journalist for Limelight, I got to sit in it and pose for pictures. On leaving the shopping centre where prices were borderline extortion, I approached the army officials who checked my possessions and me for anything illegal. Then after that, there, in front of my eyes, the Olympic Bridge and just in the horizon the Olympic Stadium. Hundreds even thousands of people were walking over that bridge on their way to the event of a lifetime. After grabbing a bite to eat, I wanted to dive into the events straight away. The first event I went to was goalball where the competitors were blindfolded and had to stop a ball which had a bell inside it from getting into their goal. To tell you the truth I thought goalball was crap lol and the best thing that happened to me was that I got injured and was nearly rendered paraplegic at the Paralympics lol! How ironic! A long strip of my skin was shaved off my back after I fell off my seat. Luckily, I managed to get a big plaster to cover the wound and was told that 5 year olds normally get that sort of injury at the Olympic Park, not big boys of 21, like me! Thankfully, I was still fit enough to keep enjoying the Olympics and so went off to see wheelchair basketball, which was more exciting than goalball, as the two teams really got into the sport; crashing and bashing each other to get the ball into the net. Peter strikes a pose after sneaking into the Olympic Stadium!
Peter and Barbara bump into comedian Jimmy Carr
UPs The freebies were excellent ☺ Atmosphere was amazing and every one was excited ☺ The volunteers and workers at the park were friendly and helpful ☺ “I went to the Paralympic Games and it was one of the best days of my life!”
Peter’s injury at the Paralympics
DOWNS The Olympic Park’s cash machines only took Visa and so if you didn’t have any money or a Visa card you starved! ☹☹ If you left the Olympic Park for any reason, including to get something from your car, you weren’t allowed back in ☹
Shortly before the match finished, Shaun and I got up and left to go to another event, but got side tracked by the free activities on offer, in the Olympic Park, such as, XBOX 360, which you could play at the Acer building, ‘tennis with a pro’ and ‘test your might’ (tennis serving style). Shortly after enjoying all the free activities I went to a wheelchair tennis match, where I watched England kick Switzerland’s butt, which was amazing. By the time the tennis was over, it started getting dark and then the atmosphere got epic to the point where I fell in love with the Olympic Park. Around 11pm, after nearly 13 hours in the Park, I headed towards the exit with the rest of the Limelight team and on our way, we decided to try and get into the Olympic Stadium, as our tickets didn’t cover us to watch events there. Barbara and I sneaked into the now empty stadium, which was HUGE. After getting a mouthful of Olympic might we headed home. PS: Fortunately, it didn’t rain
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REVIEWS TV
The closing ceremony of the Olympics
The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games started with a bang and ended with a bang. It was all set on a Union Jack stage and featured artists such as Emilie Sande, who definitely brought the stadium down with her hit song Read All About It. As well as Emilie Sande, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Tinnie Tempah and Taio Cruz each sang a song as did many British veterans of the British music industry, including George Michael and Annie Lennox. Eventually came the one act female British teens were looking forward to - The Spice Girls. Their performance of If You Wanna Be My Lover and Spice Up Your Life brought extra excitement to the ceremony. Following the handover ceremony where the Mayor of London Boris Johnson passed on the Olympic flag to Brazil came a taster of the Rio 2016 opening ceremony. Spectacular though it was, it’ll be pretty tough to beat London 2012’s opening ceremony. All in all, the closing ceremony was the perfect way to end the Olympic Games and definitely gave all the British spectators a reason to feel proud. By Chantelle Phinda
The closing ceremony
Film
Chariots of Fire
Book
The Oscar winning British classic Chariots of Fire is inspirational, captivating and a brilliant watch which can be enjoyed by all the family. With excellent actors and a convincing storyline, this movie kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot is based on the true story of two British athletes, one a strong-willed Jew and the other a devoted Christian, who train to compete in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. With the storyline truly exceptional, I felt compelled to sit through this two hour long film, eager to find out which one of the Brits would get the gold medal. By the end of Chariots Of Fire , I sat feeling overwhelmed that I had never watched this breathtaking film, which was released in 1981. If you haven’t yet watched Chariots of Fire I advise you to rush to your nearest DVD shop, buy some popcorn and enjoy… By Barbara Bielecka
100 Ways For Every Girl To Look & Feel Fantastic
If I were 12 and found this book sitting underneath my Christmas tree I’d be beaming with happiness but reading it at the age of 15 doesn’t inspire that kind of response. Now don’t get me wrong, even if you’re approaching your late teens this book, will definitely arm you with some beneficial information such as the right clothes for your body shape and help you to develop your skills as a young woman, but the style of writing and the choice of words are more suited to a slightly younger age group. By Barbara Bielecka
Win a prize!
Do you feel inspired to look good following London 2012? Then enter our competition and you could win a range of fantastic skin care products or the fabulous book 100 Ways For Every Girl To Look & Feel Fantastic, published by Walker Books. To be in with a chance of winning one of these great prizes, please answer the following question: Who scooped the coveted gold medal in the men’s 100m at London 2012? Email the answer to limelight@risemedia.org.uk and tell us which prize you would like.
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Mark's magnificent story! Barbara with Olympic gold medallist Mark
A Paralympic gold medalist, world record holder and an inspiration to all, Mark Colbourne thrashed his competition at London 2012 to win a gold medal in the men’s individual C1 pursuit. Mark’s triumph in the velodrome was immense as he not only beat the 18 years younger Zhang Yu Li of China, but did so in a record breaking time of 3 minutes and 53 seconds. Barbara Bielecka had the enormous privilege of interviewing the 43-year-old Paralympian at a swanky central London hotel When I heard that Mark was giving a talk about his life and amazing accomplishments in the world of sport I took my tools of the trade - notebook, pen and voice recorder and headed off to the Marylebone Hotel in central London. Despite arriving half an hour early, crowds of people had already gathered and were making the most of the delicious refreshments or taking quick snaps with the cycling star. As people began to take their seats, the front chairs remained empty and so I quickly grabbed one, positioning myself in front of Mark and next to David Smith, a Paralympic rowing gold medallist. With everyone raring to go, the presentation began.
I
come from a small town in South Wales called Tredegar. A very famous person comes from there named Aneurin Bevan. He created the NHS and without him I’d probably be dead or in a lot of debt. I’ll take you back to a Bank Holiday weekend, in May 2009. At the time I was a man living life to the full. I had a great job, a nice company car and a good salary. I was 95kg, headstrong and healthy. My passions in life included rock-climbing and racing triathlon, but my main passion was paragliding. I loved having that fantastic feeling of freedom. Unfortunately, in the afternoon that I was flying my life changed in a matter of seconds. One minute I was enjoying flying 40 feet above the ground and the next I flew into a crosswind where my canopy collapsed. I hit the floor within three seconds, luckily landing on my feet but unfortunately snapping my back. To add to my already painful injury, the strong wind reflated the canopy and dragged me for almost 80 metres. Luckily the Wales Air Ambulance was there within 20 minutes. As I was lying there on the ground looking up at the sun I thought to myself, ‘wow that was close,’ I’ll just sit up now, but then I realised I could not. It was almost like being velcroed to the floor. I could only move my arms and my head. I was airlifted to Swansea Hospital and the consultant told me that I had broken my back. A week later, I had twelve titanium
pins inserted into it and then my lengthy trip to hell started. Lying on my back and looking up at the ceiling was all I could do for 94 days, as I was now paralysed in my lower legs. Eventually, I found out through my physiotherapist that I was able to turn pedals on a bicycle. After nearly six months at the hospital I was ready to go home and within months of me being home I joined a local disabled academy where I was taught to ride a bike again with stabilizers. After six weeks of going to the veledrome the instructor said that I was doing well and they were ready to take my stabilizers off. Five months later they entered me into acycling Grand Prix i n Wa l e s whereI won both t h e medals, which w a s quite surreal considering I was only on the bike for six months. That is when I thought that there could be something in this cycling because this is what I enjoyed and still enjoy today. After many competitions I found out that I was getting good and in June 2011 I was selected to join the squad of the Great Britain
Paracycling team. At the Paralympics I first won a silver medal in the men’s individual C1-2-3 1km time trial but the day after was my main event, the men’s individual C1 pursuit. Before the final, the Chinese cyclist rode around and achieved a new world record, but little did he know I was doing three seconds faster in my training. Because the world record was now four minutes, my coach said I had two choices: I could either go and ride 3 minutes 58 seconds like I had been doing in training and get into the final or I could smash the world record and frighten the Chinese rider to death. I decided to smash it and ended up beating the world record by seven seconds. In the final not only did I beat the Chinese rider but I beat my own world record as well. At the end of the Paralympics I came out with one gold medal, two silver medals and a new world record - now that is a dream come true. A big thanks goes to Peter Pure of rawfoodparty.com for organising the event where Mark spoke and giving Limelight an opportunity to attend it.
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And the gold medal for hosting the best Olympics ever goes to – London! It’s official! London 2012 is the best ever Olympics, according to a world-wide poll of MSN readers. Great Britain beat the competition by miles to scoop a gold medal for hosting an Olympic Games that put highly rated previous hosts Australia and China in the shade. Over 87,000 MSN readers – from Brazil to Belgium and Ireland to India - voted when asked to name their favourite of the six Olympic Games from the past two decades. Here are the results!
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London 2012 - 45% For all the worries before the 2012 Olympics - security issues, fears of over-commercialisation and transport chaos, as well as weather concerns, London worked hard and went on to produce a brilliant Olympic Games. It was filled with incredible moments, receiving well-deserved world-wide praise.
Atlanta 1996 - 4.5% Hosted by Atlanta, the capital city of the US state of Georgia, the 1996 Games attracted criticisms for ‘poor organisation, overcrowding in the Olympic Village, and over-commercialisation’. MSN readers placed Atlanta 1996 in sixth place.
Sydney 2000 - 15.1% The fantastic Sydney Games produced some unforgettable moments and MSN rewarded the Australian city’s efforts by placing it third, just behind Beijing.
Barcelona 1992 - 7.8% Thanks to the Olympic Games, the Spanish city of Barcelona became one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, and was for a long time considered the best Olympics of the modern era. However, it’s been 20 years since the Games and this is probably the reason for this undeserved low result.
London 2012 Sydney 2000 Beijing 2008 Athens 2004 Barcelona 1992 Atlanta 1996
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29.2% 19.7% 19.0% 16.4% 9.6 % 6%
Beijing 2008 - 16.1% Beijing kicked off with an unforgettable opening ceremony and went on to deliver a praise worthy Games which saw the emergence of Olympic megastars such as Jamican athlete Usain Bolt and our very own Paralympic swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds.
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So, the results are clear: London 2012 is the best ever Olympics by far. Although many British MSN readers took part in the vote, what gives this victory even more credibility is the fact that London still comes first when UK votes are excluded.
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4 Athens 2004 - 11.5% Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics put on a great show in 2004 and MSN readers still have fond memories of the Athens Games.
The world’s press on London 2012 The Australian, Peter Wilson The British have knocked Sydney off its pedestal as the best host of a modern Olympic Games. As awful as it is to admit, London 2012 was bigger, slicker and more thoughtfully planned than Sydney in terms of the legacy it will leave the host city. It is, I’m afraid to say, bronze for Barcelona, silver for Sydney, and gold for London.
Washington Post, USA, Mike Wise The host country truly was Great Britain. London delivered a rousing Olympics. I wasn’t in Beijing, but the consensus is this was the most
organised, enthralling and enjoyable Games since Sydney in 2000.
National Post, Canada, Bruce Arthur This was a brilliant Olympics in almost every way: wonderful crowds, marvellous volunteers, logical coherence and a galvanizing performance by the home side.
New Zealand Herald, David Leggat Hats off to Lord Coe and his Locog planning chums. They can put their feet up knowing London did itself and the Olympics proud.
Rio 2016
The ones to watch
The much anticipated London 2012 Olympic Games was a resounding success as the best of the best competed, world records were broken and history was rewritten. With Rio 2016 in Brazil fast approaching, we can expect to see similar inspirational displays of sportmanship from scores of competitors, including the following ten we’ve tipped for gold medal glory!
Jessica Ennis Tom Daley Putting his loss in Beijing behind him and celebrating his London 2012 bronze medal, this Plymouth-born champion is now going for gold. Thomas Robert Daley (18) will train his hardest now that the countdown for Rio has begun and expect his efforts to pay off with pure Olympic gold. And with the whole of Great Britain behind him, there is little doubt this international champion will arrive back from Rio in 2016 with gold medals in hand and a place in the record books. Go Tom!!!
Making her debut Olympic appearance in front of the world in 2012, Jessica Ennis struck gold with seemingly effortless ease. The heptathlon champion will no doubt face fierce competition in the Brazilian capital, but backed by our support, she can no doubt repeat her amazing performance!
Louis Smith Though just losing out on the gold to the Hungarian Krisztian Berki, we believe that Rio 2016 is where Louis will shine! Go Louis!
David Rudisha In his first Olympic appearance, Kenyan middle distance runner David Rudisha won a gold medal in the 800 metres – setting a record-breaking time of just over a minute and a half in the process. We reckon it’s safe to say that this athlete is one to place bets on in Rio!
David Weir All Team GB supporters will remember four times gold medal winner David Weir, whose sporting achievements have been both many and notable, with a total of ten Paralympic medals in the last eight years. It seems nothing can stop the ‘Weirwolf ’! As for now, David is undecided about 2016, but we hope he’ll commit to Rio because we can’t wait to see him compete again on a global stage.
Mark Colbourne With less than three years of training since an accident left his back broken in 2009, Mark has managed to attain two golds and one silver medal, as well as setting a new world record in the 3km individual pursuit. The cyclist is a true inspiration..…go Mark!
Ellie Simmonds
Usain St Leo Bolt Be sure to look out for the lightning bolt Usain in 2016. We can expect him to light up the stadium as more than a runner, as he’d like to try out the long jump! Usain wishes to expand his repertoire even further, and is even seriously considering the world of professional football. It is reported Manchester Utd have agreed to a tryout. No matter what he does, we’re sure Usain is bound to excel!
Having won four medals at this summer’s Games, Ellie Simmonds is truly talented at what she does. To the many who were amazed by her performance in the 2012 Paralympics – never fear, Simmonds will be reappearing in Rio for a rematch with her ‘arch-nemesis’ of the swimming world, Victoria Arlen. Let the battle commence!
Joanna Rowsell Cycling superstar, Joanna Rowsell is already looking forward to the next Olympic Games. London 2012 saw her pick up a gold medal and a new world record, so we believe she can do the same again in Rio. Good luck, Joanna!
Kevin Samuels Kevin Samuels could be a new hero for Team GB...and a rival to Usain Bolt! He experienced first-hand the implications of last summer’s riots as his brother is in jail, and he almost became embroiled in the looting himself. But as the rioting intensified he thought of national sports charity Street Games, which was and still is investing in him and decided he had too much to lose. After getting involved in Street Games, Kevin realised he had a talent for the 200m. The charity encouraged him to train hard and now he is 32nd among young men under 20 in the event. His ambition is to take on lightning bolt Usain in 2016 and bring home the gold! Watch out Usain!
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