Mum quizzes Games chiefs in TV debate

Mum quizzes Games chiefs in TV debate

 10:00am Tuesday 13th September 2011
By Emily Roberts



A BASINGSTOKE mother was in the national spotlight when she took part in a televised debate about the 2012 Olympic Games.

Michelle Harding’s six-year-old daughter Emily was promised a major role in either the opening or closing ceremonies, having been born on the day Britain won the bid to host the games, back in December 2004. But organisers back-tracked on their pledge and instead said the 700 children could only have a minor role in their local torch relay ceremonies instead.

As reported in The Gazette, Mrs Harding, from Oakridge, launched a campaign and petition with other angry parents.

She was subsequently invited to take part in The Olympic Debate, broadcast on the BBC in London, with London 2012 chairman Lord Sebastian Coe and London mayor Boris Johnson.

The pressure and publicity resulted in London 2012 organisers offering the children to be part of the opening ceremony of the Paralympics instead. Mrs Harding, who has four other children, said the decision was a “compromise.” She added: “I and some other parents wonder if this was just a response for the TV audience on the day.”

Despite her initial disappointment, Mrs Harding said she has now come around to the idea.
The 37-year-old suffers with a condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), which came on suddenly five years ago. It involves a malfunction of the nervous system that leaves her in constant pain, often resulting in her having to use a wheelchair.

She said: “There is a lady who is competing in the Paralympics who has the same condition, so it’s quite nice that Emily is going to be part of that. When I told her she was really happy.”
However, organisers have only promised one ticket, which means either Mrs Harding or her husband will have to miss out.

She said: “It’s not very fair. The whole thing has been a lot of stress and I don’t want to jeopardise my health any more, but we will try and get another ticket.
“No one has apologised for why they changed their minds. I think the reason they changed their minds was because of the publicity. I still have my doubts about whether it will actually happen, but we’ll see.”