Table tennis played a central role as thousands of people proclaimed “I Am Team GB” at events up and down the country.
A series of tables were set up on the iconic cobbles of Coronation Street as well as in public places in towns and cities such as Bristol, Nottingham and Bournemouth, and at clubs including Bishop Auckland TTC and Keighley TTC.
The event, organised by ITV and The National Lottery, was billed as Britain’s biggest sports day and was a chance for people inspired by the Olympics success of Team GB to have a go at many of the sports which featured in Rio.
It was also a thank you to all those who contributed to the success by playing The National Lottery, which raises money to help fund elite sport.
ITV shut down all seven of its channels for an hour on Saturday morning, displaying a graphic encouraging people to go and play sport.
Hundreds visited the set of Coronation Street in Manchester, where eight tables were set out along the middle of the street.
Table tennis Olympian Kelly Sibley, England youth internationals Shayan Siraj and Harry Dai and Special Olympics medallist Harry Fairchild were on hand to play against members of the public and Coronation Street actors including Rhea Bailey, who plays Caz Hammond, Richard Hawley (Jonny Connor), Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster), Dolly-Rose Campbell (Gemma Winter), Daniel Brocklebank (Rev Billy Mayhew) and Marc Anwar (Sharif Nazir).
@TableTennisENG Jonny from @itvcorrie in serious training with commonwealth medalist @sible2109 #IAmTeamGB 🏓👍 pic.twitter.com/Ox2m9Eqo5p
— Emily St.John (@ESJ1505) August 27, 2016
Also there were Team GB medallists from Rio, Elinor Barker (cycling), Bianca Walkden (taekwondo) and Marcus Ellis (badminton).
Kelly said: “I love Coronation Street and I love table tennis so today has been absolutely brilliant! My favourite part was first walking in to see the tables lining the street, Corrie should definitely do this every year!
“Meeting the cast and playing them was awesome, in particular Richard Hawley, and it was great to see over 1000 members of the public enjoying table tennis on the iconic cobbles of Corrie.”
Harry Fairchild, who travelled from Brighton TTC with his dad Geoff to take part, said: “The best thing about today is seeing all the Corrie stars playing table tennis. My favourite person from Corrie is Jonny Connor and Gemma Winter
“I even acted out a scene with Jonny Connor as his son Aiden in front of the factory, it was brilliant! Jonny said to me you are a great guy and my number 1 table tennis player.”
Amanda Jane Read, publicity and engagement manager at ITV, said: “It’s been fantastic to see eight tables on the street of Corrie, the public and the cast have loved it!”
The tables used at Coronation Street have been donated by ITV to organisations in Manchester – The Church of The Apostles, St Cuthbert’s Church, The Fed Residential Care Home and Trinity House Community Resource Centre.
