Olympic gold medallist Sarah Webb made Newham’s Royal Victoria Dock Watersports Centre, Custom House, her first port of call yesterday, as she embarked on a London-wide tour of sporting events held to ‘Celebrate Sport with London 2012’.

The champion yachtswoman, who scooped gold in the Yngling class at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, took to the water with young people from Newham during one of the centre’s free holiday sailing sessions.

Sporting activity wasn’t confined to the docks however, as young people were also able to get active at a host of other activities staged around the borough as part of the day’s action. Budding Olympians were able to take part in sessions including athletics, football, non-contact boxing and basketball.

Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales said: “We’re pleased to welcome such an inspirational role-model as Sarah to our borough. Meeting someone who has achieved such a magnificent goal motivates our young people to aim higher and aspire for more.

“A successful bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games would bring this kind of inspiration to Newham on a much grander scale, providing a catalyst to an even brighter future for the next generation.”