10:40am Saturday 18th July 2009
By James Tourgout
YOUNG sailor Adam Greaves rubbed shoulders with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a reception for stars of the future in London.
Olympic hopeful Adam met the PM, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell and sporting heroes at Downing Street.
Royal Manor Arts College student Adam, 12, who lives at Southwell on Portland, talked about his sailing with Mr Brown during the event.
He also met cricket legend Shane Warne, Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson, Wimbledon winner Boris Becker and golfing great Gary Player.
Adam, who lives with mum Mandy, dad Alan, and brothers Tom, seven, and Jack, two, said: “It was really good. It was a great experience and an adventure to go to London.
“Gordon Brown asked me what sport I did and then we just chatted about sailing for a bit.
“It was quite strange because you see him on TV and then he is standing there in front of you.”
South Dorset MP Jim Knight nominated Adam for the ‘Young Sporting Stars of the Future’ event at Downing Street.
He also toured the Olympic Park at Stratford and met Lord Coe, who is chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).
They renewed acquaintances after already meeting at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.
Adam and Lord Coe were both at Wembley stadium where a delegation from Dorset was giving advice to other councils and groups about Olympic preparations and ways of capitalising on the Games.
Adam had to give three presentations at the stadium.
He said: “The highlight of the trip was meeting Seb Coe again.
“Someone was about to introduce us but Seb said ‘I know who this young man is’.
“He came over and talked to me and asked how it was going. He also said to say hi to my mum.”
He added: “Wembley was amazing.
“We could see the arch from our hotel window.”
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