Ashley Mitchell with Amber Charles (Ambassador for the Games) and the Olympic torch.

Inspiring Olympic work earns award nomination for Snaresbrook resident

by Jessica Earnshaw , Reporter Friday, August 17, 2012
4:44 PM

A talented swimmer, who was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the Olympic Games and has helped to inspire young people to get involved, has been nominated for the Young Citizen Award.

Ashley Mitchell, 22, a former pupil at Forest School, in College Place, Snaresbrook, was selected to be one of six junior mayors of the athletes’ Olympic Village.

Now the university student is in the running for an Exchange Ilford-sponsored Recorder/Redbridge Rotary Club Young Citizen Award for his work in inspiring young people to get involved in the Olympics and sport in general.

He is championing the Join In campaign this weekend as thousands of clubs and community groups open their doors for the UK’s biggest celebration of local sport.

‘Amazing’

The Walthamstow resident said: “It was amazing to be a part of something so big and represent a generation.

“In the seven years since London was awarded the Games, I have organised a lot of events and I have worked with the leader of Waltham Forest Council to help capture the youth spirit.

“We organised for a big screen to be put up so that everyone could feel involved.”

His role, which has allowed him to rub shoulders with the likes of Michelle Obama, Tony Blair and Prince William, included organising welcoming ceremonies for athletes and helping people find work experience.

Ashley travelled to Singapore in 2005, along with 29 other young Olympic Ambassadors, to champion London’s bid to host the Games.

He said: “The whole experience has been surreal, as a local resident, to see how the area has been transformed and the celebratory spirit that has been inspired by world-class sport and great British success.

“The past few weeks have been a fitting culmination of all of the fantastic experiences I have had over the past eight years.”