Caroline inspires giant mosaic at Bury leisure centre
Wednesday, 13th July 2011.
The colourful mosaic, designed to be a permanent reminder of London 2012 and recognising that the town will host the Rwandan Olympic and Paralympic athletes next year, was designed by students at Priory School.
Caroline, who last month won a gold medal when the GB wheelchair basketball team won the BT Paralympic World Cup final, unveiled the mosaic at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre yesterday.
The project was organised by Suffolk County Council and funded through a grant from Activities Unlimited for young disabled people from Bury St Edmunds.
The design for the mosaic is based on the students' drawings which were then enlarged and transposed into a design by Urban Eye, the charity behind the workshops.
The project was open to young people between the age of 16 and 25 and volunteers including current students and former pupils. Former official artist to the British Olympic Association Kevin Whitney helped students create the stunning mural.
Caroline, who has competed in wheelchair basketball in three Paralympics (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008), visited Priory School earlier this year and provided the inspiration for one of the panels.
She said: “I had a fantastic day talking the students at Priory School and I’m really proud that they wanted to include me on the mosaic. It is stunning.”
Cllr Kathy Gosling, Suffolk County Council's portfolio holder for sport, culture, diversity, health and wellbeing, said that Caroline was an inspiration to young people.
She said: “I am delighted that Suffolk County Council has been able to lead this project and, in doing so, spread a little bit of the magic of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games across the county.
"I would like to thank all the young people that worked so hard on the mosaic and Caroline for inspiring them.”
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