Warwickshire News Mine

And this week they welcome local sporting icons Naomi Folkard, who is an Olympic archer, and Great British table tennis star Kelly Sibley to the centre to view the huge work of art.

The young people who attend the Warwickshire County Council centre have spent months painting a mural to highlight the history and the impact of the Games. During this time they have learnt about past Olympiads, and the personal stories about who they have painted.

Warwickshire County Council Youth and Community worker Gary Timlin said: “We wanted to do an art project that we would keep for many years and replace the dated mural that was on the youth centre wall. With this project we have set out to inspire the young people - both the artists and non-artists among them.

“As the Olympics is coming up in London in 2012 and all that the movement stands for, this seemed like the perfect idea.

“We believe we have captured the young people’s imagination about the Olympics. It is a global celebration of different countries, cultures, races and religions coming together to do their best in a peaceful atmosphere.

“We encourage the local young people to have a healthy and active lifestyle, and if they have a dream or a goal of their own, then we will do our best to support them with that.”

Earlier this year, youngsters at the Lillington Youth Centre created an 8ftx12ft Monet-style mural, which has been displayed on the side of The Chain, a community project run by volunteers based at a shop in Crown Way.

Naomi Folkard is an archer from Leamington Spa who has appeared in two Olympic Games. Kelly Sibley first started playing table tennis aged eight at Lillington Free Church and is the current Commonwealth Games doubles Bronze medalist.

Link to WCC