Jonathan Edwards CBE accepts post of President of the Wenlock Olympian Society

Jonathan is still the Triple Jump World Record Holder, a title which he’s held since 1995. He is an Olympic Gold medallist from the Sydney Games and a former Commonwealth, European and World champion. Currently he sits on the LOCOG Board as the Athlete Representative, Chair of the Athlete Committee, and deputy chairman of the Nations and Regions Group.

In March, 2010, Jonathan was in the picturesque market town of Much Wenlock to launch ‘Wenlock’, as the Olympic mascot, in honour of William Penny Brookes who inspired the revival of the modern international Olympic Games. Brookes was born, lived, worked and died in the town. Later in May, alongside David Moorcroft, Jonathan was back to launch the national ‘Community Games’ project. This has been a very successful programme which will leave a lasting legacy after the London Games in 2012.

Jonathan has fulfilled the role of Vice President providing support and advocacy for the past two years. He is aware he has big boots to fill as he will succeed the late Roy Rogers, former Olympic and Commonwealth Official and president of Midland Counties Athletics who died in April of this year; Norman Wood, who led the revival of Wenlock Games in 1977 and was the driving force of the Society for over twenty five years; and of course, William Penny Brookes, founder of the Wenlock Olympian Society which Jonathan will now head.

Wenlock Olympian Society (WOS) was founded in 1850 by William Penny Brookes to provide competitions in sports and the arts for all people at their annual Games. The Society and its founder are a significant part of the modern International Olympic Games’ history.

The Games still continues today as a festival of sports and cultural competitions at their friendliest and best, welcoming local, national and international competitors. The 126th Wenlock Olympian Games will be held in 2012. It opens on Sunday 8th July with the marathon, half marathon beginning in Much Wenlock, and equestrian events in Broseley, and closes on Sunday 22nd July with the gliding competitions at Long Mynd. It will be held over eleven non consecutive days and take place on seven sites in and around Shropshire, but centred on Much Wenlock. A complete schedule of events, times, dates and locations will be available on the Wenlock Olympian Society web site from 1st January, 2012 www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk