Greenhill pupil Victoria Walters will be working hard this summer - no long days on the beach for this year nine pupil or for the other 12 members of the Pembrokeshire Special Needs Gymnastics Club who have been selected to represent Wales at the eighth Special Olympic GB National Summer Games taking place in Leicester from July 25 - 31.

With an opening ceremony at the Walkers Stadium (home of Leicester City Football Club) on the 25th - the events will see 3,000 athletes from 19 regions taking part, with an expected 20,000 spectators watching a spectacular opening event.

Competition will be fierce and, although not widely publicised locally, the event is front page news in many areas of the UK and beyond, with high profile ambassadors such as the actors Jackie Chan, Colin Farrell and Bruce Willis and former actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Games' patrons this year are Gary Lineker and Martin Johnson (coach England RFU), who said: "Being asked to take on the role of Games patron for Special Olympics 2009 was a proud moment. I know the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm that the Special Olympics athletes put into their training and competitions. So when the games come to Leicester I know the city is going to put on a fantastic event. I wish all the Special Olympics athletes the best of luck."

Victoria and her team are proud examples of what Martin is talking about, with weekly training at their base at Thornton Industrial Estate under the watchful eye of Jean Jones and her dedicated coaching team, with regular trips to Cardiff for intensive training - not the Sundays most people like to enjoy.

For further information on the Games, there is a dedicated website at http://www.so12009.com">www.so12009.com.