CHILDREN took inspiration from the Commonwealth Games when they took part in Wharf Green sports workshops over the weekend.

Swindon Shock Basketball Club gave visitors coaching to improve their skills and allowed them to try out wheelchair basketball on Saturday, with rugby and hockey workshops taking place yesterday.

Ben Fox, who was overseeing the basketball session, said: “It has been good fun. We’ve had a lot of parents coming down, letting their kids have a go and cheering them on. Some of the guys have shown a lot of ability but today is focusing on them enjoying sport.”

The weekend’s events are part of a free sports programme, running until Saturday, August 2, which is being held to coincide with the Commonwealth Games taking place in Scotland.

It has been organised by Swindon Council, Swindon Sports Forum and inSwindon with the aim of getting people of all ages engaged in sport.

Chris Bailey, from Swindon Street Games, said: “The basketball proved to be really popular. We did a demonstration during the Olympic Games and it has been nice this time around to actually let people play and even have a go in the chairs and see how different wheelchair basketball is.”

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The remaining sports which will take place in Wharf Green, under the big screen showing the Commonwealth Games, include football, netball, fencing, boxing and swimming.

Chris said: “This programme is a great thing for all involved. It is a good opportunity for clubs to get out and meet the public to give them a taster of what they do while it is also a chance for young people to learn more about sports they might be unfamiliar with.

“We are really pleased with how everything has gone so far and we expect the sessions to get more popular given that the schools have broken up. I think doing the sports underneath the screen is a very good idea as the sport being shown is certainly drawing people in and then we’ve found that families have been encouraged to come over to us and see what is going on.”

Today, visitors to Wharf Green have a chance to try American football in a class being run by Swindon Storm between 11am and 3pm.

To see the full programme of events being held at Wharf Green visit www.swindontowncentre.co.uk.