Road to Rio: Replica Tardis part of colourful Olympics festival in Sunderland

A carnival of colour, music and sport will hit the city in the form of a three-day festival.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jun 2016, 13:13 BST
Updated 20th Jun 2016, 15:08 BST
Chairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to RioChairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to Rio
Chairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to Rio

The Road to Rio community celebration will take place in Barnes Park on June 30, July 1 and July 2.

Funded by the West Area Committee, the carnival is based around the themes of world sport and culture, promoting local health and well-being with the 2016 Olympics in Rio fast approaching.

Chairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to RioChairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to Rio
Chairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to Rio
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To help make sure everyone has the dates in their diaries, chairman of the committee, Councillor Peter Gibson, joined children at Broadway Junior School, along with some of the performers who will be entertaining the crowds at the event, to get the carnival spirit started.

The first two days of the Road to Rio are for schools only, but the third day will be a free family fun day for everyone.

There will be a carousel of sporting and craft activities, stilt walkers in costume, live music and theatre and food from around the world, among the attractions reflecting the cultural mixture of the Olympic Games and the atmosphere of the Rio Carnival.

Coun Gibson said: “After the success of our first community event last year celebrating our shared heritage and cultural future, we chose the Road to Rio as our theme this year to look toward getting fitter and healthier together as a community.

Chairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to RioChairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to Rio
Chairman of the West Area Committee Coun. Peter Gibson and pupils from Broadway Primary School, setting out on the Road to Rio
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“There is something for everyone from the chance to try out new sports like four-way volleyball and archery to sampling cuisine and culture from around the world.

“Befitting the theme we hope that the event will also have a lasting sporting legacy, promoting the many sporting and leisure opportunities provided across the city and encouraging more people to get involved and support them.”

Entry to the event is though a replica ‘Tardis’ made by the Pallion based ‘Learning Curve’ skills training company.

Other attractions on the day will include a climbing wall, archery, crafts, information stalls and a fairground.

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Headteacher at Broadway Junior School, Margarita Acklam said: ”We went to last year’s event which was wonderful and exceeded all expectations, and hoping that the Road to Rio this year will be even better.”

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