Jeremy Hunt praises Much Wenlock's Olympic role

A Government minister responsible for delivering the London 2012 Games has praised Shropshire's role in Britain's Olympic heritage after visiting the 125th Wenlock Olympian Games.

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, visited the annual event in Much Wenlock on Saturday, where he handed out awards to competitors and also met organisers.

Mr Hunt said: "I am delighted to be here, it sends out a very important message.

"This is the birthplace of the modern games and Much Wenlock played an incredibly important role in the founding of the Olympic movement.

"It was the inspiration for what Barron de Coubertin took from Dr William Penny Brookes and we are here at his school.

"We are the only country to have hosted the Olympics three times and it all started here in Shropshire. This is absolutely the place to be," added Mr Hunt.

"I will be able to go back to London and remind people of Britain of our Olympic heritage and that we are one of the great sporting nations."

Hundreds of athletes have taken part in a wide variety of events throughout the four-days of the Wenlock Olympian Games.

Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, said: "I'm very excited that the secretary of state who will be responsible for delivering the Olympics in 2012 has come here to the 125th Wenlock Olympian Games to pick up a few tips, not just for the London Games but also for the community games that the Government is looking to stage across the country as part of its Olympic legacy.

"It all started here, and it's all about getting young and older people involved in sport.

"Since I have been MP I have come to the event several times.

"I want to promote Much Wenlock as the inspiration for the modern Olympic Games and of course the mascot is named after the town," he added.

Helen Cromaty, of Wenlock Olympian Society, said: "This year has been the biggest games yet and it's been absolutely brilliant.

"Friday was the cricket which went really well and there was a young man who is going to go on to do wonderful things in the sport. Saturday started with the biathlon, triathlon and the athletics.

"It's been very nice to have such special guests including Mr Hunt and David Ottley, who won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics for javelin."

By Paul Mannion