Olympic star Jonathan Edwards launches games

Olympic gold medal triple jumper Jonathan Edwards was today launching a new type of Community Games in Much Wenlock to commemorate the town's links with the Olympic Games.

Mr Edwards, who won gold in the Olympics, World Championships, European Champions and Commonwealth Games, was invited to launch the games at Gaskell Field, in Station Road, this morning.

The Community Games is one of the major cultural events planned in the build-up to London 2012 and draws on the inspiration of Dr William Penny Brookes's concept for the Wenlock Olympian Games.

Mr Edwards, vice president of the Wenlock Olympian Society, was set to watch a number of events, including quoits, a game which involves throwing rubber rings over a set distance, to land over or near a spike.

Today's launch party was also due to include speeches from David Moorcroft, Mike Grace and Moira Swinbank.