It’s been a bumper Olympics for Team GB so far - with our 376-strong team scooping more than 40 medals already.
And back on home soil, more than 10,000 people have been inspired to take part in their own tournament to raise money for the British Red Cross.
In June the charity launched Be Your Best, to encourage school children to set their own challenges from running laps of the playground to long distance skipping to reading or baking marathons.
Be Your Best was launched by Sally Gunnell, former British track and field athlete, and Olympic Gold medalist, at Coldean Primary School in Brighton.
Now families are joining in, with Game On - a new Olympics-style fundraiser, running throughout the Tokyo Games.
People across the nation were challenged to set their own sporting activities, including everything from sprinting lengths of the local park, taking on a heptathlon in the back garden or completing a one-minute plank for every medal won by Team GB athletes.
Twins Henry and Elliot Bell, nine, couldn’t wait to have a go.
They’ve decided to try 17 sporting activities including cycling, surfing, kayaking, athletics, badminton, archery, golf and football - to make the 17 days of the Olympics.
So far they have raised over £200 of their £300 target.
Henry says: “We are doing this to raise money for a great charity. We have got all our family involved, we have really enjoyed it.
“This weekend we have five challenges to complete to make it a total of 17. So me and Elliot are hoping to do BMX riding, running, long jump, kayaking and maybe archery if not, basketball.”
And they’ve made it a real family affair. They took their mum Joanna climbing, their dad Russell canoeing, grandpa John on a 20km bike ride in Devon, their grandma Felicity to a game of tennis and went rowing with their cousins.
Elliot says, “I really enjoyed climbing, canoeing and swimming. It is very important to raise money for charity, because the British Red Cross supports people who are lonely and refugees. They help people get on with their lives.
“I liked watching the swimming in the Olympics, especially the freestyle and Team GB have won quite a few Gold medals.”
Vanessa Stoke in Coventry has been playing swingball tennis for her Game On challenge.
At the beginning of June, Vanessa set herself a target to lose a bit of weight and to get fit, but when she saw the Game On challenge, she combined the two.
Vanessa, 54, says: “I am a carer for my mum, in lockdown she had a heart attack, a stroke and was exposed to Covid, so it has been a tough year. But I knew I wanted to give back to charity.
“I haven’t picked up a tennis racket in 33 years, but it has been really good for my mental health, it has got me fit post-lockdown.”
To finish off the Olympics in style, Holly Taylor, her mum Suzanne and aunt Mandy Goodge, will be doing a triathlon.
For every medal won by Team GB, Holly will ride one km, Suzanne will swim one km and Mandy will run a km on Sunday.
Holly, 27, from Hitchin, near North Hertfordshire, says: “I like cycling, getting out and about, but I’ve not done much of this during lockdown, so this will be great. Also it will be nice to spend time with my aunt, as she has been away travelling for the past 18 months.
“Mum and my aunt love a challenge, so admittedly they were up for taking part. We will be counting the medals on Sunday, I don’t think I have ridden this length before, but it will be fun.
“I love watching the Olympics. I discovered my passion when the Olympics were held in London in 2012. The atmosphere was amazing in London.
“This year the BMX has been amazing, I would definitely recommend people watch the BMX clips. The reaction of the athletes after they won Gold and Silver makes me teary.”
Holly, Suzanne and Mandy are hoping to raise £300 from their triathlon.
Game On has been supported by Team GB athletes, including Caroline Dubois, Frazer Clarke, Kate French, James Cooke and Joanna Muir.
Caroline Dubois, Team GB’s youngest boxer, says: “It’s for a good cause and you’re not just doing it for yourself you’re doing it for us – that’s amazing.
“We appreciate all the support that you’re giving us so keep at it, don’t give up and just get it done.”
James Cooke, British modern pentathlete, adds: “We have a saying in running – the hardest part is putting your running kit on, once you’ve got your running kit on you’ve committed.
“So, if you’re getting out there, good luck and hopefully we can have a lot of support back home.”
Mike Adamson, chief executive at the British Red Cross, said the charity was “amazed with the enthusiasm” of everyone who took part in both challenges.
Mike says: “People have already come up with some extraordinarily fun and creative challenges – from learning to do a back flip to baking gold medal cupcakes to give out to people on their street.”
Money raised from Be Your Best and Game On, will allow the charity to continue their work in supporting communities hit hardest during the pandemic.
