With only 250 days to go until the 2012 London Games, school kids across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to embrace the Olympic spirit.

Schools across Northern Ireland can win the ultimate sports day by entering Dale Farm dairy’s ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Day Design Competition.

In partnership with the Mary Peters Trust, Podium4Sport and the Belfast Telegraph, Dale Farm is offering five schools the chance to win a Sports Day package to remember.

Winning schools will receive a sports day equipment pack from Dale Farm and Podium4Sport, worth over £500; a school visit and inspirational talk from a local sporting hero such as 1972 Olympic Gold medallist Dame Mary Peters and coverage of their sports day in the Belfast Telegraph.

The competition invites primary school children to think about what the 2012 Games mean to them and design a winner’s trophy for their sports day.

The design should be fun and imaginative and inspiration can be drawn from the Games, their school and the importance of dairy in an active lifestyle.

Brian Beattie, head of marketing for Dale Farm, said: “Through our Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award we have granted over £30,000 to young, local athletes, helping them to achieve their goals of competing at international competition such as the 2012 Games.

“But it’s not just the athletes who we want to support — we want to engage all children here in the ‘Olympic dream’ — and we hope that the school sports day competition will go some way towards doing this.”

Dame Mary Peters, President of the Mary Peters Trust added: “The excitement for the London Games is building by the day, so as a past Gold medal winner I’m delighted to be involved with this initiative.

“I would encourage all eligible schools to ensure they are in with a chance of winning this unique prize.”

Further competition information will soon be available by logging on to www.dalefarm.co.uk.

Closing date for entry is Friday, February 3 and the sports days for the five winning schools are expected to take place in May/June.