Sport Relief Weekend 2010
Post categories: Sport Relief
| 16:25 UK time, Thursday, 18 March 2010
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When I lace up my running shoes on Friday for Sport Relief I'll be mulling on how far we've come since we set up the charity ten years and £75 million ago.
is reputedly the biggest mass participation event in the world, and this weekend's television is one of the biggest of the year, with a galaxy of stars from Robbie Williams to Richard Hammond, Claudia Winkleman to Cheryl Cole.
Celebrities have really risen to the challenge this year and the feats have been both serious and magnificent - from battling Christine Bleakely water-skiing the Channel, to and who could forget Blue Peter super-girl Helen Skelton kayaking down the River Amazon alone.
Back in 2000 I had just taken up the reins of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Sport and together with CEO Kevin Cahill, we hatched a plot to use the inspirational power of sport for good - to change people's lives and also to help Ö÷²¥´óÐã Sport get closer to their phenomenal audiences.
The rest is fund-raising history.
Since then I've been lucky enough to see the results throughout the UK as well as far and wide, on visits to hospitals and schools, orphanages and smallholdings in Ethiopia and Zambia, where I travelled this year with Strictly's and Something for the Weekend's among others.
Now I can't wait for the shows and I'm anxious about living up to the steep targets we have set ourselves to raise money in the teeth of a terrible recession - just when vulnerable people need help most.
This weekend there is so much to choose from, 'Smithy' of Gavin and Stacey fame coaching the cream of British sport - have a sneak peak at him putting and friends through their paces above - Dragon Den stars battling it out on Strictly Come Dancing, hosting a Question of Sport Relief, and the team putting their reputations on the line as they swap football shirts for aprons as they try there hand at Masterchef.
There are specials of Outnumbered, Mock the Week and the One Show, as well as The Choir's Gareth Malone trying his best to train Olympic and Paralympic heroes to perform a song on the night.
On Sunday at 16.05 on Ö÷²¥´óÐã1 look out for the Sport Relief Mile show and and launching the first ever international Sport Relief Mile in South Africa. Phew.
What still astonishes me is the capacity of UK audiences, communities, schools and celebrities to keep on giving, supporting and caring. And the magic and alchemy of translating wonderful Ö÷²¥´óÐã entertainment and documentary into money and help.
All we need to figure out is what to do next - 2012, our most important year of sport yet is looming.
Bring on !
Comment number 1.
At 10th Dec 2010, U14717710 wrote:This weekend there is so much to choose from, 'Smithy' of Gavin and Stacey fame coaching the cream of British sport - have a sneak peak at him putting Wayne Rooney and friends through their paces above - Dragon Den stars battling it out on Strictly Come Dancing, Frank Skinner hosting a Question of Sport Relief, and the Match of the Day team putting their reputations on the line as they swap football shirts for aprons as they try there hand at Masterchef.
There are specials of Outnumbered, Mock the Week and the One Show, as well as The Choir's Gareth Malone trying his best to train Olympic and Paralympic heroes to perform a song on the night.
Best regards, Yuriy, CEO of
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At 10th Jan 2011, maxterdfling wrote:Sport relief was hilarious!! I laughed so hard from the clip with Man United players did the dancing... even skipped a night of playing in an just to make sure I was not going to miss it.
Thanks for the post!
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At 10th Feb 2011, Katya wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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