‘Wee Northern Ireland girl’ proud to be Team GB mini mascot

Amelia helped athletes at the kitting out day in Birmingham where she met gymnast Max Whitlock

A twelve-year-old dancer from Carnmoney has spoken about how "happy and proud” she is to be a mini mascot for Team GB for the 2024 Olympics.

"It feels really unbelievable," she said, "it feels really big because we're quite a small place in the UK, and it just feels like, how could a wee Northern Ireland girl get this,” she said.

More than 20,000 children from across the UK applied to support athletes as mini mascots.

Six were chosen, with Amelia being the only child from Northern Ireland to be selected.

"It feels really cool because I know there was a very low chance of getting this," she told BBC News NI.

The 2024 Olympics takes place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August.

The mini mascots supported Team GB athletes when they collected their Olympic kits, and they participate in fanzones to cheer them on and take part in local team announcements.

'Very excited'

More than 20,000 children from applied to support athletes as mini mascots

The mascots helped at the kitting out day in Birmingham in June were they met some of the athletes.

Amelia told BBC News NI she “was very excited” to meet her favourite gymnasts, Max Whitlock and Becky Downie.

She also met Mallory Franklin, who won silver in canoeing at the Tokyo games in 2021.

'Great fun'

Amelia says the experience has been 'unreal'

After Amelia was selected, she had to keep it a secret until Team GB announced the winners.

“I was so happy, like screaming and jumping about the place, and I just couldn't believe it,” the twelve-year-old said.

After being shortlisted by Team GB, Amelia had to submit a minute-long video to reach the final spot.

“I just did all my favourite things I do in my dancing—my favourite tricks,” she said.

“It was all just great fun.”

'Immensely proud'

Amelia's dad says it's "brilliant" that his daughter is representing Northern Ireland

Amelia’s parents are excited that she will play a role in the Olympics.

Her dad, Rodger, says they are “immensely proud” of their daughter and will never forget the experience.

“It's such a unique opportunity," he said.

"This is the first time they've done a mascot scheme competition; no one’s ever done this before.

“It’s brilliant because you have to represent your region. It's quite a big thing to be the only child doing that. It's quite a unique and novel experience.”

'A bit of a whirlwind'

The mascots have been helping to rally their local communities to support Team GB in the run up to Paris.

“It's been a bit of a whirlwind. There's been so many events. There's been a lot of social media," said Rodger.

“Amelia’s done quite a lot of campaigns for Team GB, for some of the sponsors as well, which has been really fun."

As a dancer, Amelia is excited that break dancing has been introduced as a new sport at this year's Olympics

Breaking, which is a competitive form of breakdancing, will be a new sport at the Olympics in Paris 2024.

Rodger hopes Amelia will go to the Olympics as an athlete one day.

“A lot of the events are trying to gear towards newer novel kind of events that might bring the younger generation through, so especially something like breaking,” he said.

“It's kind of a cross between gym and dancing, which is a perfect kind of sweet spot for what Amelia does, or would like to do, and aspire to hopefully in the next Olympics.”