The Merry Hill Centre is marking the summer of sport with two weeks of free-to-attend sporting activities for children aged over 4 - and adults - running at the same time as the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Merry Hill’s free event programme builds on from the success of the past two years of the centre’s summer sporting events and is another opportunity for visitors to jump into the action.

This year, every day between 11:00am - 3:00pm, from Friday 26th July to 11th August, visitors can take part in a range of sporting activities located inside a pop-up sports stadium in Merry Hill’s central event space on the Lower Mall opposite M&S and Mango, with no booking required.

The activities will help keep the kids entertained over the school holidays and give visitors even more ways to enjoy their time at the centre, while uniting the community and showcasing great local organisations.

Through partnerships with local organisations such as The Albion Foundation, GKR Karate, and Paul Campbell's Karate Academy, visitors will be able to get involved in karate demonstrations, blind football, volleyball, table tennis and even air hockey for the ultimate showdown between friends and family.

Plus, visitors can get involved in Olympics-themed crafting and art therapy, as well as children’s yoga with Wild Earth Movement, the centre’s local environmental partner.

Team Pumpkin Boxing is another local organisation that will have a hand in adding more to this year’s events, an organisation that the centre supports with annual donations to help engage young people who could benefit from actively participating in the community gym. The team will be on hand for drop-in sessions to teach young visitors some beginner boxing moves and fitness skills, as well as the health and mental wellbeing benefits they can bring.

The event series will feature other Olympic sports, including table tennis, gymnastics, BMX freestyling, and the newest sport to join the Olympics roster, breakdancing. Professional dancers will be on hand to teach techniques and put on some show-stopping performances throughout the day themselves.

What’s more, families can meet some of the amazing players across West Bromwich Albion’s men’s women’s and blind football teams.

All the information for the exciting sporting events and activities taking place at Merry Hill this summer is available at mymerryhill.co.uk.

Jonathan Poole, Centre Manager at Merry Hill said: "This summer, hot off the heels of EURO 2024 and Wimbledon, and with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 getting underway, we’re bringing the feel-good factor of sports to Merry Hill.

"We're aiming to unite our community and get everyone up and active – with a host of free, fun and accessible events at the heart of the centre.

“Whether people are coming along for shopping or trying out the new leisure mall, make some time to visit our sporting event too, they’re a great way to try out a real range of sports and activities, we can’t wait to see our visitors try something new."

For more information and the complete schedule of events, visit mymerryhill.co.uk.