Delivered in partnership with the British Heart Foundation National Centre (BHFNC), the ‘Flames: Lighting the way’ programme held its eighth annual festival on the morning that the Olympic Torch passed the college, along Epinal Way.

Around 120 children took part in the day from Loughborough’s Church of England and Mountfields Lodge primary schools, along with Elizabeth Woodville and Martin Shaw, from Groby.

They were treated to guest appearances from the 1948 Torch and a copy of the London 2012 Torch which was provided by Loughborough College alumni Tajinder Sahota who carried the torch through Loughborough in the morning.

The 20-year-old was nominated as a Torchbearer by the College’s Sport Development Officer Rob Jarram because of her commitment to sports volunteering. In 2009 she was nominated as a British Colleges Sport National Ambassador and led a leadership project to India, delivering activities to young people.

Passionate about sport, Tajinder has been an active volunteer in the Flames programme and took the time to speak to Podium on the day about her experience as a Torchbearer and you can watch her interview now. 

The Festival also featured physical activities including trialling sitting volleyball with expert coaching from members of the Team GB sitting volleyball team. The team has been based at Loughborough College as part of their early pre-Games training.

The schoolchildren in attendance were also encouraged to write ‘My Games, My Legacy’ promises and good luck messages to the Sitting Volleyball Team. A member of the men’s sitting volleyball team Sam Scott spoke to Podium about his enjoyment of delivering the sport on the day and you can watch his interview now. 

Alongside the many sports, the schoolchildren had the opportunity to run with the 1948 Olympic Torch in a recreation of the relay. They then had professional photographs with the two torches and some of the attending athletes, including Team GB Hockey player, Flames Ambassador and current Loughborough College student Nicola White.

She has attended many Flames Festivals events so far, and enjoys inspiring the young people, saying: “It’s really important to show youngsters that having a healthy lifestyle can be fun. I also want to inspire them by showing them that if you put your mind to something and work hard, you can achieve whatever your goals in life are.”

She spoke to Podium reporter Ruth Faulkner about her enjoyment of the day and you can watch her interview below. 

The Flames Festival has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark and won the Coubertin’s Olympic Vision award at the Podium Awards Ceremony in May, see more about the project here.