More than 400 children from local Loughborough schools were able to meet the Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee Lord Sebastian Coe last week as Loughborough College teamed up with Charnwood Borough Council to launch an exciting new project.

The ‘Torch to Schools’ initiative will see the original 1948 Olympic torch held by the College undertake a 12 month tour of the borough, visiting every single primary school along the way.

The Olympic chief was on hand to witness a ‘mini Olympics’ organised by young leaders at the College as part of the Flames: Lighting the Way programme that is run in partnership with the British Heart Foundation.

Elite Sport Education Officer Chris McGeorge was delighted with the students who organised the event, saying: “Without the Loughborough College young leaders this fantastic event would not have been possible.

“Our students really did themselves proud by bringing together more than 400 kids to take part in something so special.

“To be able to do this is partnership with both the British Heart Foundation and Charnwood Borough Council has been fantastic.

“The main thing about it is that the children all had a splendid time and they are feeling closer to the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a result.

“To feel like they are involved with the Games is great. They are the legacy and if we are going to continue the work that we are doing with BHF then these children are so important.

“We really want them all to have gone away from the day being enthusiastic about being active and keeping healthy and understanding the Olympic values.”

The event took place at the Loughborough University athletics track on Thursday where Seb Coe started his athletics career.