Pupils from two Southampton schools have been chosen to take part in a guard of honour at the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
Bassett Green Primary School and Sholing Technology College will join 249 other schools from across the country to line the route into the Olympic Stadium as athletes make their way through the Olympic Park for the ceremony.
The schools were picked through the reward and recognition programme of the Get Set network, the official London 2012 education programme. The were chosen after demonstrating a commitment to living the Olympic and Paralympic Values and incorporating them into their school lives and curriculum.
Max Phillips, 10, from Bassett Green Primary School, said: “It will be a brilliant, once in a lifetime experience. Maybe in a few years time I’ll be able to see if from the other side as an Olympic Games competitor.”
There will be around 2,000 pupils taking part in the guard of honour.
Seb Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, said: “The presence of so many young people at the start of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony will continue to show London 2012’s commitment to put young people at the heart of the Games. For athletes, the Guard of Honour will provide a stunning welcome to the Games and the perfect curtain raiser for the Athletes’ Parade.”
The pupils taking part in the guard of honour will also be given a tour the Olympic Park and some of the other London 2012 venues before the games begin.