Bishops join city & county champions on cycle-row event for Olympic countdown
 
 
Two Bishops and community champions for the county and city councils will be completing a cycling and rowing stunt across Nottingham next week to signal their support for the London Olympics and the one year countdown to the Games.
 
The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler and the Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter*, will be joined by Cllr Keith Girling (Deputy Portfolio Holder for Culture and Communities at Nottinghamshire County Council) and John Kelly (Interim Corporate Director for Communities for Nottingham City Council) for the cycle-row activity on Wednesday 27th July, from 11-1pm – exactly one year from the opening ceremony of London 2012.
 
The group will set off from the Robin Hood statue next to Nottingham Castle at 11am to cycle to the Trent Bridge, where they will step into two Nottingham Rowing Club boats and attempt to row down towards the suspension bridge, before returning and cycling back into the city. They will also be supported by members of the rowing club and the Diocesan Sport Ambassador, Tim Friend.
 
The Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter said: “We hope this will send a clear message to local people, businesses and other organisations that we are taking the Olympics and Paralympics seriously. Various venues around the city and county will be training centres for the Olympics and although the main events will be in London, we are all going to be joining in the opportunities that will spin out from this tremendous event. 2012 is going to be an exciting year for us all and the churches and the local authorities are looking forward to working together in local communities in a whole variety of ways.”
 
Photos:
There will be two photo opportunities with the group on Wednesday 27th July 2011:
1.      From 10.45/11am at the Robin Hood statue in Nottingham, below the Castle (Castle Road, Nottingham), with the bikes.
2.      By the river near Nottingham Rowing Club, (Middle of Three, Trent Side North, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5FA), next to Trent Bridge, at 11.45am before setting off in two ‘four’ rowing boats 
 
 
 
Ends
 

*The Bishop of Sherwood has strong sporting connections, having played hockey for England Schoolboys. He was also chaplain to Manchester City Football Club and continues to take a keen interest in sport across the diocese.