NPTC Group of Colleges to Turn Red for Team Wales

NPTC Group of Colleges is inviting all staff and students to wear red next week, as we show our support for Team Wales at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

On March 23rd, Wales turns red to show support for the Welsh athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next month.

It is an opportunity to show how we Inspire, we Respect, and we Believe in our Welsh sporting talent – whether at grassroots or elite level.

And with three of the NPTC Group of Colleges’ family heading out to the Gold Coast, we want to give them all the support we can!

Sport and Sports Development and Coaching student Emil Barber has been selected as a travelling reserve in the Welsh gymnastics squad. Emil, 17, who studies at Llandarcy Academy of Sport has already competed for his country for five years! Earlier this month, he won a silver medal on the vault at the British Championships in Liverpool, also coming sixth overall in the Under 18s’ competition. This will be his first Commonwealth Games.

Runner and Newtown College Sport Lecturer Andrew Davies will be competing in his second Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast. The recently named ‘Mongomeryshire Sports Personality of the Year’ finished 17th in the marathon at the Glasgow games in 2014.

“To have the chance to run for Wales doesn’t happen very often so it’s unbelievable,” said Andrew.

Three-time Commonwealth Games veteran Hazel Wilson is ‘surprised and honoured’ to be representing her country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Hazel has been Team Manager of the Welsh Women’s Bowls Team since 2009, and juggles her bowls duties with her role as Study Support Assistant Manager for NPTC Group of Colleges’ Powys Campuses.

Sport Wales is helping businesses, schools, colleges and organisations across the country to get involved, before the team fly out to the Gold Coast in April.

Everybody is encouraged to wear red on the day itself and share the celebrations using the hashtags #WeAreRed and #CymryCoch on social media.

Non Stanford, who will captain Team Wales over the 11 days of sport in the Gold Coast said: “Welsh support is absolutely invaluable to us when we’re overseas competing and we would love it if, on March 23rd, you could show your support for us. We hope that, as a team, we inspire you to try a new sport and get active. Let’s do this together.”

Sarah Powell, Sport Wales chief executive added: “We know what great sport supporters we are and ‘We Are Red day’ is our chance to unite and get behind the Welsh athletes who come from all corners of the country. This is an opportunity for us all to show Team Wales that we will be cheering them on as they put on their red shirt and give their all at the Games. We want to see you all join together and wear your finest red on March 23rd.  Let’s show what sport means to us and unite this proud sporting nation!”