Olympics role inspires a love for water polo

AN OLYMPIC volunteer is bringing back her experience in London pledging to help boost the profile of a water polo club.

Josie Scobling, aged 26 from Chaddlewood, spent three weeks in London in July and August as a Games Maker – the term given to the 70,000 strong volunteer workforce.

She was working as a flash quote reporter in the water polo arena for the Olympic News Service.

And now she has volunteered to help Devonport Water Polo club to raise the understanding of the game across the region.

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Josie's role at London 2012 involved interviewing players after matches before logging short sentences, known as 'flash quotes', capturing their thoughts and emotions.

Since then she has returned to her day job as press and public relations officer at Cornwall College

She explained: "When I got the email in November last year to say I'd been offered a role with the Olympic News Service I was ecstatic.

"What threw me was finding out I'd been assigned to water polo.

"Of all the sports I could have been given to cover, I found myself with the one I knew nothing about, short of playing a toned down version of it in a kids club on holiday years ago."

Having learnt the basics of the sport, Josie launched herself into her new role.

She added: "I spent my days interviewing some of the best water polo players in the world."

Josie will work with Devonport Water Polo, who are based at the Life Centre, to raise the profile of not just the club but of water polo as a sport across Devon and Cornwall.

"Water polo is one of those sports that rarely gets a look in compared to your mainstream football, rugby, cricket and so on," she explained.

"It's so undervalued purely because people don't know what it's all about and haven't been given the means to find out, yet it's one of the most physically demanding sports out there."

Devonport has a number of teams ranging from under 12s right through to masters level competing in leagues and tournaments throughout the year, with a mini polo club for those 11 and under to ease themselves into the sport.

With some of its teens selected for the national water polo development programme, the club is on track to contribute to the next generation of Team GB talent.

As for opting to help with PR for the club rather than getting in the water, Josie said: "I have every respect for those who do play. I took part in a training session myself as I wanted to be able to say I'd had a go. I certainly don't think I'm going to make a world class water polo player, but I might dabble in the odd training session with Devonport."

Those interested in finding out more about Devonport Water Polo including a schedule of upcoming competitions which are free to watch at the Life Centre can visit www.devonportroyal.com, email rogerbossom@devonportroyal.com or call 01752 705217.

The region's teams will next be in action at Plymouth Life Centre on Saturday in the Amateur Swimming Association's South West Water Polo Championships.

Big screen success Page 8