An Antrim Grammar School student, who is also a UK Olympic 2012 Young Ambassador, has been selected to represent the British Council at a major event in Egypt.

Gemma McAllister, who is in year 13, will travel to Cairo next month to take part in a PE and sport conference as a member of the British Delegate Team.

School principal Stephen Black said: “This is a tremendous achievement both for Gemma personally and also for the young people of the province to have this opportunity to share her passion for sport with the young people of Egypt. She has made us proud.”

He added: “Gemma is very outgoing, very friendly and very much engaged with sport.

“She is the type of person who makes a very good ambassador.”

The three-day conference is aimed at creating opportunities for Egyptian young people in sport, looking at the impact PE and sport can have on a young person’s life.

During her visit from January 29 to 31, Gemma will deliver a speech to delegates and work alongside 20 Egyptian Young People Voices to provide an input from the UK.

The 16-year-old has impressive sporting credentials having played soccer at international level, is a member of Antrim Grammar and Mossley’s 1st XI hockey teams, plays water polo for Belfast’s Donegall Diamonds and represented her school in the Girls’ Rugby Schools’ Cup final.

The Glengormley girl was |nominated to be the UK representative at the event by the Youth Sport Trust after going through an |interview process and beating off competition from the 10 others who are also the UK’s Olympic 2012 Young Ambassadors. As an ambassador, her role is to raise participation in sport, promote the Olympic and Paralympic values and promote the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It is yet another accolade for the school whose application earlier this year to become a London 2012 School was successful.

Antrim Grammar now carries the London 2012 educational logo and received a London 2012 plaque, certificate and sign sticker as well as six tickets to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.