OLYMPIC medallist Joe Glanfield from Exmouth has been passing on his sporting expertise to youngsters. Joe, 29, a former Exmouth Community College pupil, attended a Youth Sport Trust ambassador s programme at Exeter Chief s stadium last Thursday, October

OLYMPIC medallist Joe Glanfield from Exmouth has been passing on his sporting expertise to youngsters.

Joe, 29, a former Exmouth Community College pupil, attended a Youth Sport Trust ambassador's programme at Exeter Chief's stadium last Thursday, October 1.

The programme, set up after London was selected as the 2012 Olympic host city, is designed to use the games as a vehicle to inspire millions of young people to participate in sport.

People aged between 14 and 19 are nominated by their school to become 'young ambassadors' in recognition of either sporting achievements or commitment to leadership and volunteering.

The ambassadors then work as role models in a number of communities across the country.

Joe said: "It is a really good programme and raises the profile and awareness of inspiring people into sport.

"It will be great if the Olympics in 2012 have a lasting legacy and more young people continue to participate in sporting activities."

Reflecting on his days as a student at Exmouth Community College, Joe said: "The sporting facilities there are a lot better now compared with when I attended.

"I still go back to the school for their annual sports awards and it is fantastic the programmes they have got, not just for curricular activities but for extra-curricular as well."

After his success in the Beijing Olympics, Joe now works as a performance lifestyle advisor for the English Institute of Sport.

"I advise young people on how to put together a sailing programme and balance that with other commitments such as university life.

"I'm also working with Steve Morrison and Ben Rhodes who will be going to the World Championships next January in the Bahamas."

Looking ahead to the 2012 games, Joe believes Team GB can repeat their success of the last Olympics.

"They set the bar pretty high at the last games. Realistically, if we do as well as we did in Beijing or build on it slightly, that will be amazing.

"Everything is shaping up for us to do well.