Carrying the flame for sport for development

Team sported. will carry the Flame not once but twice during the Olympic Torch Relay with Regional Managers Julian Wills and John Ellery both selected as Torchbearers out of tens of thousands of nominees.

Julian and John's involvement in this esteemed Olympic tradition is fitting recognition of their efforts to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth through sport as part of their work for sported. - a  charity born out the London Olympic bid's promise to deliver a lasting legacy from the Games.

sported. Director Jo Stocks said "We're thrilled for Julian and John to take part in this once in a lifetime experience and also for the opportunity it presents sported. as the voice for the sport for development sector."

Julian Wills, who will carry the Flame through Bodmin on 19th May,  has committed his career to working in sport and was a major influence on the inclusion of the triathlon as a Paralympic sport in Rio, 2016. He has worked as a volunteer community coach for over twenty years and currently delivers triathlon coaching sessions to support local clubs in Devon and Cornwall and provides running advice and support for amputees.

Julian said "It is an absolute honour to carry the torch through the county I call home. Since 2009, I  have worked with sported. to transform young peoples lives in the county and now I can celebrate the legacy sported. has created by running with the torch through Bodmin, knowing that it will eventually light the Olympic flame in London."

John Ellery's leg of the relay will take place in Birmingham on 30th June and is an apt reward for the years he has spent 10 years working and volunteering in the sport for development sector, including five years contribution to community sport in inner-city Birmingham and a further four years offering sport activities to children who are blind or partially sighted.

John said "This is a rare opportunity and I'm privileged to be carrying the torch through Birmingham, a city where I have been involved in a wide number of community sports initiatives. Working for a charity with the backing of Sir Keith Mills and being part of a process that brings that enthusiasm, passion and success into communities is a great job and having that lead to my selection as a Torchbearer is the icing on the cake."