With just over a year to go you can celebrate the London 2012 Open Weekend, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th July 2011, at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire. The Science, Sport, Life Festival on Saturday 23rd July is a fun family event on the Green at Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, with plenty of free opportunities to try different sports and activities, while on Sunday 24th you can watch the Blists Hill Victorian Town residents compete in a series of quirky, historic challenges.
The weekend‘s activities are part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum’s exciting multi-site Science, Sport, Life series of events and exhibitions, which lead up to the London 2012 Games and are supported by Renaissance West Midlands. Both events also belong to the programme of days out, exhibitions and festivals celebrating the 25th anniversary of Ironbridge Gorge being designated as one of the UK’s first World Heritage Sites in 1986.
Commenting on the Science, Sport, Life programme, Lord Sebastian Coe, London 2012 Chair, said: “These events running at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums are a perfect example of the excitement the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad can add to local communities across the UK. Through the Stories of the World initiative, Ironbridge has created two exciting permanent exhibitions and a series of events, festivals and community games celebrating our collective sporting heritage and inspiring the sporting heroes of the future.”
Science, Sport, Life Festival 23rd July
Challenge yourself at the Science, Sport, Life Festival, which will take place on The Green at Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron between 10am and 5pm on Saturday 23rd July. All ages can join in the fun and experience a sport or activity which they may not have tried before such as fencing, cricket and archery or even test their strength and balance on a climbing wall. Visitors can also take part in fitness assessments and join in fun fitness shows or have a go at a number of entertaining physical challenges.
Activities on the Green are free and normal admission prices apply to visit the museums.
In the evening Oddsocks Theatre Company will once again be bringing live entertainment to the Ironbridge Gorge with their own inspired interpretation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth. The outdoor performance will take place on The Green at Blists Hill Victorian Town; gates open at 6pm and the show begins at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the entrance shop at Blists Hill or Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre priced at £11 for adults and £8 for concessions (plus £2 p&p if posted from the Information Centre). They will also be available on the gate at the event, subject to availability; there are no reserved areas.
Community Games Sunday 24th July
On Sunday, 24th July Blists Hill Victorian Town will stage its own outdoor Community Games on The Green. In the morning you can cheer on competitors in the slow vintage cycle race. With great skill, concentration and balance contestants will try to ride their fine cycles as slowly as possible around the circuit.
In the afternoon visitors can watch some quirky Victorian sports and games such as ‘Catch the Slippery Pig’, Wheelbarrow Races, Throwing the Cannon Ball and the 8 Legged Race. Visitors will also be able join in some quirky challenges such as leek flinging. There are plenty of refreshment places at Blists Hill including the New Inn and traditional fish and chip fryers but bring a picnic if you prefer. Normal admission charges apply.
Community Games is inspired by London 2012 and part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands. It has been funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
An Annual Passport to all ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums valid for twelve months and unlimited return visits costs £22.50 for adults, £18.25 for the sixty plus, £14.75 for children (up to 18 years in full time education) and £61.50 for families; under 5s free. Individual admission is available into any of the sites. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).
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