SCHOOLCHILDREN are training for a special event to celebrate the Olympic Games.

On Thursday youngsters from 17 primary schools in the Thurston area as well as Priory School in Bury St Edmunds will compete in versions of up to eight Olympic and Paralympic disciplines at Thurston Community College.

The event will start with an opening ceremony where children will parade representing the chosen country of each school and will end with a medal ceremony. Teams will be awarded points not just for winning, but also for showing Olympic values in their behaviour and attitude.

Activities will be led by student young leaders from the community college and Ixworth, Beyton and Blackbourne Middle Schools under the guidance of PE teacher Kelly Allcock and coaches from the Schools Sports Partnership. The afternoon will see the children experience taster sessions in a range of new sports activities including fencing, martial arts, archery and rowing.

The event has been made possible thanks to a successful bid to Get Set, the official London 2012 education programme. It has enabled the Thurston Partnership - which is made up of the 17 primaries and the community college - to afford the hire of equipment, specialist teachers and transport. Each primary school within the partnership is focusing on the Olympics this term

The Olympic torch is set to come through Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket on Saturday. See the link above right for updates.