Chris Earle, who is director of sport at Loughborough University, was the guest of honour at Hipperholme Grammar School's Speech Day last week at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax.

He not only discussed what impact next year's Beijing Olympics would have on the world, but also what effect the 2012 London Olympics would have on West Yorkshire and the country.

Dr John Scarth, head teacher at the grammar school, said: "It was a real honour for us to secure the services of someone as important as Chris Earle, especially because as a school we look to excel both academically and on the sports field.

"The theme of his talk was being the best you can be' and using the Olympic ideals to consider how everyone, regardless of whether they are good at sport or not, can use the spirit of the Games to be inspired to achieve more in anything they do.

"He also gave the audience some idea of what the Games mean to some of the Olympic athletes training at Loughborough University."

Hipperholme students Jack Shirlaw and Cassie Walker also gave a speech titled This Sporting Life' to show how important sport is at the school and how sporting success is defined.