Shaquille Roberts from Toco in Trinidad & Tobago last week fulfilled the opportunity of a lifetime to run with the Olympic Torch as a result of his involvement in London 2012’s international sports legacy programme, International Inspiration.
Shaquille was amongst a group of 20 young people involved in International Inspiration who took part in the Olympic Torch Relay through Nottinghamshire in the UK on 28 June.
One Torchbearer was selected from each of the 20 countries which are part of International Inspiration, from Azerbaijan to Zambia, to take part in the Relay. Each International Inspiration Torchbearer was nominated and selected either for their dedication and commitment to inspiring children and young people in their communities through the power of sport or for the personal challenges they have overcome in their lives. 
Shaquille was nominated by his PE and International Inspiration Tutor Avianne Tobias because of his growth on the programme. He has demonstrated courage, determination to excel and willingly helps others within his school and community through International Inspiration despite his personal challenge. An avid sportsman, Avianne felt this experience could only propel Shaquille further cementing his never give up attitude as he works toward achieving his goal of representing Trinidad & Tobago at the 2016 Olympics as a distance runner.
International Inspiration is bringing to life the promise made by the London 2012 bid team where they pledged to reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport. The programme is delivered around the world by a unique partnership of organisations including the British Council, UNICEF UK and UK Sport.
International Inspiration is enriching the lives of more than 12 million children in 20 countries around the world through high-quality and inclusive physical education, sport and play. The programme is currently helping change the lives of over 12 million young people.
Shaquille said of his experience: “I still can’t believe I held the Olympic Torch in London! Running with the Torch for those few minutes - I was feeling like I was running the 1500 at the Olympics in Brazil 2016 heading for the finish line first and thinking it would be even better than this!!”
Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: “I’m thrilled that Shaquille Roberts from our International Inspiration programme in Trinidad & Tobago has had the opportunity to run with the Olympic Flame. Shaquille has been a real inspiration in his community and truly demonstrates how sport can change someone’s life. Shaquille’s story is truly inspirational.”
About International Inspiration
The International Inspiration programme is governed by an independent charitable foundation. International Inspiration is supported and funded by a mixture of organisations and Foundations, including Department for International Development (DFID), the British Council, the Premier League, UNICEF, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Comic Relief, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the GE Foundation and individual donors. The programme is also supported by the Youth Sport Trust, the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association and individual donors.
To enable longer-term impact, the programme is developed jointly with the governments, National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees, where appropriate, of participating countries. The programme is supported and welcomed by the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee.
The vision of International Inspiration is to use the power of sport to enrich the lives of millions of children and young people of all abilities in schools and communities across the world, particularly developing countries, by offering them the opportunity to access and participate in high-quality and inclusive sport, physical education and play. The programme is already changing the lives of young people in twenty countries - Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Zambia - and has already enriched the lives of over 12 million children and young people.
International Inspiration was developed as a result of the commitment made by the London Bid team in Singapore in 2005 to ‘reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport’.
The school partnerships are managed by the British Council, which has long experience of linking schools internationally, working in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, which utilises its expertise in developing teachers and young leaders through sport.