YESTERDAY marked 100 days to go until the start of the London Olympics and Swindon Harriers will celebrate that by holding a try athletics session this evening.

The event is taking place as part of a nationwide drive by England Athletics - to which the club is affiliated - to promote the sport and give people the chance to become involved in an Olympic and Paralympic year.

The campaign is not only focused on recruiting athletes but also on encouraging people to support their local club by becoming a coach or performing another volunteer role.

Harriers chairman Ian Larrard said: “It is Swindon Harriers' policy to make athletics accessible to all, from under 11s to veterans and from the enthusiastic novice to the experienced achiever.

“We encourage excellence and perhaps more importantly, enjoyment of the sport at all levels.

“We hope that athletes past, present and future, mums and dads, the uninitiated and the serial spectator from the age of 11 upwards will all take the opportunity to experience a range of Olympic track and field events on Thursday.”

Anyone who wants to take part should turn up at the County Ground track between 5.30pm-8.30pm today, when the event will take place.

Alex Copeland, national club development officer for England Athletics, added: “A try athletics day gives people a great opportunity to get involved in the sport.

“The great thing about athletics is the diversity of events and roles people can have. The events range from road running to javelin-throwing, hammer-throwing to high hurdles and long jump to long distance.

“There really is no stereotypical event and this means our sport has an incredible range of people involved as athletes, volunteers, coaches and officials.

“Swindon Harriers does not just have people involved as athletes, you can also become a coach, official, team manager, or fulfil one of many different roles at the club.

“That can give a great amount of satisfaction to you and benefit the club and wider community.”