A university student has vowed to encourage more students to get involved in sport as part of Pledge 2012.

The Active Norfolk initiative calls on the people of Norfolk to get fit and active in the run up to next year's Olympic Games.

People can make a commitment to do anything from running 5km to quitting smoking, spending more time with their family to training to be a coach.

As part of the scheme, Emily Hernandez, from Norwich, has pledged to get involved with the University of East Anglia's weekly sporting competition by organising teams and encouraging students to cheer them on.

When she is not at university, she will encourage her friends and family to exercise with her at least once a week.

The 22-year-old, who is studying sport and physical education at the UEA, found out about the scheme after attending a Sports Maker workshop last month.

The Sport Makers project, part of Sport England's Olympic legacy programme and delivered locally by Active Norfolk, aims to capture the excitement around the Olympic Games and use it to encourage those over 16 years of age to make sport happen in their community.

Miss Hernandez said: 'As a sport and physical education student, the facilities available to me are fantastic. Being able to participate in a variety of sports and activities has expanded my knowledge and has allowed me to meet some amazing athletes.

'Participating in sport has had such a positive influence on my life. By getting people involved with exercise, I hope they will receive some of the benefits I gained, becoming more educated and hopefully instilling a hobby for life.'

n A series of Sport Makers workshops are being held in Norfolk over the next few months.

The two hour workshops, organised by Active Norfolk, will give people the chance to find out more about the Olympic values, the type of roles they might like to undertake and the difference that they can make to community sport.

They will also give people the chance to join in with others who also want to make sport happen in their area, learn what they can do to get going as Sport Maker and receive some Adidas kit as part of their commitment.

The upcoming workshops will be held at Broadland District Council offices in Yarmouth Road, Norwich, on January 19, Aylsham Lodge Hotel on January 31 and Swaffham Eco Tech Centre on February 16. All start at 6.30pm.

kate.scotter@archant.co.uk