Top 5 Highlights from Nike Sports Camps UK in Summer 2019
/This summer was a busy one, with more young athletes coming to our sports camps in the UK than ever before. We’ve talked to everyone involved and selected our top 5 highlights from Nike Sports Camps Summer 2019…
1. Nike Lorenz coaches on hockey camp
We had a special visit from German Olympic Field Hockey Player, Nike Lorenz, who came to our Nike Hockey Camp at Charterhouse School in July. She spent two days coaching our young players and teaching them all about life as an international player. It was great having her on camp!
2. Celebrating a year of diversity
This year was our most diverse year to date with young athletes of 70 different nationalities joining throughout the summer. It provided a fantastic environment for cultural exchange, as well as for learning new perspectives and different training methods among athletes. One of the hockey players who joined us from Argentina shared what this meant for her, “It’s been really different from training in my country. I get to train with players from across the world so when I go back to my country, I’ll be able to play in a different style. I’ve learnt new skills from Australia and Europe!”
3. football camp players meet chelsea legend joe cole
The players were out on the pitches of the Chelsea FC Training Ground at Cobham when staff caught word that former Chelsea and England footballer, Joe Cole, was on-site and up for meeting the players! Joe was more than happy to participate in an impromptu Q&A session and the players made the most of the exciting opportunity by asking all those questions you’d ask if you met your favourite sportsperson, including - What's it like to play in the Champions League? What’s it like playing in front of thousands of fans? What does it take to get to that “next level” as a Footballer? What it’s like being an English player abroad? Joe gave some very impressive and interesting answers!
4. old friends make football camp the venue for a reunion
Four friends living in different parts of the world decided that our camp would be a good place for a reunion! Now living in London, Florida, Singapore and New York, the friends used to all play for the same football team in Manhattan 6 years ago. Whilst a couple had seen each other since, for others, it was the first time meeting again since New York.
5. Women’s World Cup inspires football girls
The start of our camp season coincided with the last week of the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup and the excitement certainly spilt over. Natalia, who spent two weeks with us on camp, grew up playing for several boy’s teams in the Philippines due to lack of opportunities for female players in the country. The success of the Women’s World Cup gave her hope that things will start to change for girl football players across the world, “I think the Women's World Cup has inspired a lot of girls around the world and I’m really glad about that! In Indonesia, where I’m based, there’s not a lot of girls who play football, but for those of us who do we’re extremely close. We share a really good bond. I saw that among the players in the national teams too!”
