Young citizens quiz experts in Olympic question time

2 February, 2010

Questions about how the Olympics relate to children in Newham were fired at the borough's young ambassadors at a recent Question Time event.

Young Mayor Kaycee de Belen, Deputy Aadilah Ismail and Youth Councillor Rosie Young all took a turn sitting on the panel of experts as part of the Citizenship 2010 programme.

The programme is designed to engage students from the 16 participating schools in citizenship activities and raise literacy standards at the same time.

They were joined by members of the business community, former athletes and decision makers for the London 2012 Games alongside Newham Council's Executive Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Quintin Peppiatt, who chaired one of the sessions.

The panel took questions from students on a range of issues including the cost of the games, the future of the Olympic park, sporting opportunities in Newham and what the Olympic legacy means for young people.

Aadilah said: "The Youth Council has been working hard over the last few years to make sure that young people will benefit from the Olympic legacy. This includes doing things like helping to design the Aquatics Centre and talking about the prices for tickets and how they should be made available to people.

"Question Time was another great opportunity for Kaycee, Rosie and me to find out more about the hopes and concerns of young people and also share with them the great opportunities being created for Newham through the 2012 games.

"It's important for us to act as a voice for young people and make sure that the organising committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games know what we think so we can enjoy a lasting legacy beyond 2012."