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Only two years to go until Derbyshire is hit with Olympic fever
This week will mark exactly two years until the Olympic torch reaches London for the 2012 games.
And as the excitement builds for the first Olympics to be held on these shores for more than 60 years, Derbyshire community leaders are taking the chance to get people in the county up and active.
Sports groups, business leaders and councils have clubbed together to come up with a plan to get sports fans young and old engaged and interested in some of the sports the country will be hosting in two years' time.
Reporters Laura Hammond and Danny Carden took a look at how the Derbyshire Plan aims to inspire people to get motivated and involved in sports, discover hidden talent in the county, as well as boosting business and bringing more tourism to the area.
They also got Belper swimming ace Ross Davenport's take on the upcoming games, which were last held here in 1948.
In 2008 Belper swimmer Ross Davenport returned empty-handed and disappointed from the Olympics.
But 2012 could be the year he turns that around.
And as he is the inspiration for hundreds of young swimmers across the country the 26-year-old has the support of not only the entire town, but thousands of people around the UK, behind him.
Ross said: "I'm working towards the Olympics. I'll definitely go for the trials and hopefully make the team. That's what everyone is hoping."
It is talent like Ross' which community leaders are looking to harness in the run up to the olympics, which will officially begin exactly two years this week.
The twice Commonwealth gold medal winner started his career at a tender age, as a member of the Belper Marlin Swimming Club. Through hardwork and perseverence he worked his way up to the position he is in now.
Organisers of Olympic events in Derbyshire are hoping to tap into talent in a similar grassroots way.
A special team of sports experts has been put together to help villages and communities plan their own olympics-style events in a bid to engage people and help them access the sporting know-how they already have.
Village Games project manager Hayley Lever said: "The idea is to help villages kickstart new festivals and events. But we also want to help existing Derbyshire sports events, often linked to carnivals or Well Dressings, to thrive.
"Having the Olympics here has helped provide a focus for us and gives us a goal to work towards."
Ross said he agreed the olympics would prompt more people to get involved in sports.
He added: "I think we've already seen numbers increase in sports. People are becoming more aware of the sports which are going on and I'm 99 per cent sure it's because of the olympics, It's most definitely a good thing,"
Local events are a great opportunity to get involved in many types of sports. The recent Ambergate Carnival, for example, gave people in the village the chance to get involved with school sports-day style activities.
They are also a good opportunity to show off an area to tourists and visitors.
Visit Peak District and Derbyshire is hoping that the area will also receive a tourism boost as a result of the games, as people travelling to London for the event also visit other parts of the country.
David James, chief executive of Visit Peak District and Derbyshire, said the area was the perfect location for those searching for a slice of traditional English countryside to visit or film.
He said: "Derbyshire is the ideal choice for people who want to see the real England in a short time, thanks to its wealth of superb landscapes, historic houses, picturesque villages, a World Heritage site and quality places to stay.
"The Olympics will be seen by more than four billion people in more than 220 countries – that's two-thirds of the world's population. So it will be the perfect time to blow our own trumpet on a global stage."
So with only two years to go, groups and businesses had better get planning soon.
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Weather for Belper
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
