LONDON 2012 Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville welcomed up to 800 Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester school pupils to this year’s Art of Sport Festival.

The day’s event saw pupils try a unique range of sports and arts activities including wave-boarding, wheelchair art, ultimate frisbee, tchoukball, rocketball, dance, drumming, plate spinning, cricket and Rugby.

Youngsters donned colourful T-shirts to create the iconic Olympic rings at the Redlands Community Sports Hub and met star guest Catherine Spencer, who plays for the England Women’s Rugby League Union.

Pupils from Budmouth College, Wey Valley School, St Osmund’s Middle School and Royal Manor Arts College took part in activities run by more than 130 students from Bourne-mouth University, the Arts University College at Bournemouth and Weymouth College, who are members of the Regional Educational Legacy for Arts and Youth Sport (RELAYS) team. RELAYS member and Weymouth College student Charlotte Reid, 17, who is studying BTEC sports development, coaching and fitness, said: “It’s been really good, the kids are enjoying it.

“It’s good for them to experience new things and they’ve definitely been educated about the value of the Olympics.”

Thirty-two pupils at the event were awarded Olympic spirit certificates for showing the best Olympic and Paralympic values of respect, excellence, friendship, determination, inspiration, courage and equality.