The Commonwealth Games of inspiration

Roger Moroney, staff reporter, Hawke's Bay Today.

In the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, now being played out in the warmth of the Gold Coast, Dame Valerie Adams spoke of her determination to make it to the top in her game — her game of shot putting.

To become a champion — to make her family proud — to provide inspiration to young people to give it their best shot at making a sporting splash.

At school she loved sport, and her physique set her up well.

As did the guidance and support of one of the physical education teachers at her school.

She trained hard and her resolve and will to do well was clearly as strong as her arms.

At the end of the day, sportsmen and sportswomen like Dame Valerie are absolutely inspirational.

That was clear from the response of the young athletes at the High Performance Sport New Zealand gym at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park late last month.

They were stunned and delighted when Dame Valerie called by.

She encouraged the gathering and trained with them, offering advice and encouragement.

It's like when equally inspiring names like Richie McCaw arrive in town and meet awed youngsters.

Because for many youngsters meeting their hero — that star in the silver fern they had only ever seen on television — can be inspirational.

In fact it will inspire some of those youngsters to make a pledge to themselves to do the best they can to also make it to the top.

It's an over-used term but people like Valerie and Richie are role models, no doubt about it.

Youngsters see a sporting star and for some a spark goes off inside their heads.

Those most inspired will tell themselves "if they can do it then I can do it".

That has been happening for years ... all the kids I ran with back in the primary school years wanted to be Peter Snell.

There were dreams and ambitions of making it to the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.

And that continues.

Youngsters see their heroes and want to be like them which is the beauty and wonder of sport.

The Commonwealth Games have fired up and here's hoping that out there in the great televisual audience there are youngsters experiencing that spark of "I want to be there one day" going off inside their heads.