Olympic star 'humbled' to open 130th Wenlock Games

The Olympic gold medal-winning triple jumper opened the 130th Wenlock Olympian Games at this year's Live Arts Festival on Saturday, which saw youngsters from around the area sing, dance and show off their talents.

The event, held at The Edge Arts Centre at William Brookes School in Much Wenlock, marked the opening of the games which will be ongoing until the end of the summer.

Mr Edwards, 49, is president of the Wenlock Olympian Society and said he was thrilled to be a part of the day.

He said: "I am very proud to be opening the games.

"To be part of something that has been part of the Olympic movement is fantastic, and I am very humbled to be able to open the 130th games.

"I always love my visits to Much Wenlock. I come once or twice a year and this is the first time I have been to the Live Arts Festival.

"I have been able to watch some live music and I have just watched a primary school choir. It really does bring a tear to your eye to see their angelic faces singing out."

The triple jump world record holder jumped 18.29 metres (60ft) in 1995 and took gold at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Now commentating, he is looking forward to sitting back and watching other athletes at this year's games in Much Wenlock as well as those in Brazil.

"It's going to be a big summer this year with Rio," he said.

"Then as of next year I will be working with Eurosport, which has just secured the rights for the Olympics from 2018.

"I will be working across Europe from the start of next year and that will be quite different for me and a real change from working with the BBC.

"I am really looking forward to the Olympics and Paralympics this year. I have never been to Brazil so I am looking forward to experiencing the culture there."

The athlete also added he would be looking out for Usain Bolt as he tries to achieve the first ever "triple triple" – securing three gold medals for three Olympic Games in a row.

Mr Edwards said it could be the last Olympics Bolt takes part in, and he was excited to see one of the "greatest Olympic athletes" at the games.

Closer to home, Mr Edwards said he was also looking forward to seeing how Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford perform.

He said: "The team obviously did brilliantly in London.

"But it tends to be that a team on the whole doesn't perform as well the Olympic cycle afterwards.

"So it will be interesting to see how Team GB on the whole will do." Mr Edwards was a guest at last year's Wenlock Olympian Games. He started the half-marathon and presented medals afterwards.

But with such a busy summer to look forward to, Mr Edwards said he was not sure whether he would be able to make the games this year.

He said: "I would like to but it is a very busy summer, so at the moment I am not 100 per cent sure where I will be and when."

Those taking part in the Live Arts Festival were getting involved in dance, speech and drama, and music competitions over the weekend and there will be more events this coming Saturday and Sunday.

The event has been run by Wenlock Olympian Society since 1979 and is aimed at school children, although people aged up to 21 can compete in dance classes and people under 18 can take part in speech and drama.

The Wenlock Olympian Games will include a half marathon in May and a number of events throughout July.

For more information visit www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk