Diss judoka Colin Oates urges people to try new sports.

The people of Norfolk and north Suffolk are being urged to make the most of a golden opportunity to try a new sport as hundreds of sports clubs throw open their doors for free this weekend.

One of the aims of the London 2012 Games was to inspire a generation and after 65 medal-winning performances by British athletes, plus countless other inspiring efforts by our own athletes and those from around the world, the nation is filled with new-found enthusiasm for sport.

And now, just a week after the Olympics came to a close, people are being offered the chance to channel that enthusiasm as sports clubs across the region offer free taster sessions as part of the nationwide Join In Local Sport initiative.

Dubbed as the UK’s biggest celebration of local sport, the government initiative is aimed at capturing the enthusiasm for sport following the London 2012 Games.

Sports on offer in Norfolk and north Suffolk include those seen in the Olympics such as hockey, volleyball, fencing, kayaking, cycling, judo, boxing, gymnastics and archery.

There are also a number of non-Olympic sports such as rugby union and korfball and leisure activities including yoga.

Norwich sports coach Tim Newenham, Great Britain’s performance programme manager for shooting who also coaches athletes at Easton College, said: “It’s a great initiative and Norfolk has a very good amount of very successful clubs which are very well equipped to deal with new members and people returning to sport and are very welcoming and friendly.

“People have seen sport and been inspired by it and now the big step is going from watching the Olympic Games and then going and taking part. All of the Olympic athletes have a great amount of fun from sport and that can’t be stressed enough.

“All the clubs are geared up to make sure people have a great experience. So go along and have a huge amount of fun.”

Nationally, the nationwide grassroots scheme will see more than 5,000 events happen across the UK as part of building the sporting and volunteering legacy from London 2012.

The campaign will mark the first national sporting weekend of its kind to be put on by a host country in the immediate afterglow of the Games.

It has been backed by Team GB medal winners past and present, the Duke of Cambridge as well as prime minister David Cameron and London 2012 chairman Lord Coe.

The initiative has also won the support of Norfolk and north Suffolk’s own Olympians.

Lowestoft middleweight boxer and Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo said: “It’s a brilliant initiative. It think it’s great, especially as it’s free. I remember my mum used to fork out a lot of money when I was younger for me to swim, play football, box, so it’s great that people can go along for the first time and see if they enjoy it.

“You never know where our next future stars are going to come from and anything that gets more people into sport can only be a good thing.”

North Lopham judoka Colin Oates added: “One of the aims of the Olympic Games was not just to perform to our best ability and bring back medals but to try and get others into sport.

“To get kids involved is a great way of getting a lasting legacy from the Olympic Games and this is a wonderful opportunity.”

Across the east of England, some 422 sports clubs and community groups are holding free taster sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

Events are taking place right across the Norfolk and north Suffolk, including in King’s Lynn, Dereham, Thetford, Attleborough, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Bungay, Beccles and Lowestoft.

Mike Hardy, president of Norwich Dragons Hockey Club, which will be holding a session for ladies and girls on Saturday at 2pm until 3.30pm and then a session for men and boys at the same time on Sunday, said: “We have seen an unprecedented level of interest in the sport of hockey in 2012, thanks to the pre-Olympic initiatives of GB Hockey and the performances by the GB Hockey squads on the ‘Smurf Turf’.

“Many adults that played hockey several years ago at school and those that had taken a break from hockey in recent years, have been inspired by the Olympics to dust off their stick and get in touch.

“Norwich Dragons Hockey Club has been running a number of events linked to TV coverage of the Olympic hockey and this weekend’s Join in Local Sport initiative provides another great opportunity for anyone that wants to give it a go and come along to their local friendly club and pick up a stick.”

Karen Claydon, chair of Wymondham Judo Club, which will be running sessions from 2pm to 3pm and 3pm to 4pm on Sunday, said: “We are hoping beginners of all ages will come along and have a try.

“We take children from the age of four and would like as many people who want to have a go to come. Judo is good for self confidence, easy to do and it’s great fun.”

Join In Local Sport is an independent charity funded by government with the specific aim of getting as many people as possible to turn up, take part and join in at their local sports facilities.

David Moorcroft, former 5,000m world record holder and director of sport at Join In, said: “No host country has ever done what we are trying to do with the ‘Join In’ weekend and that is to capture this magic moment for all time.

“The ‘Join in’ weekend is a great opportunity to harness the enthusiasm generated by the Games, for sport and for volunteering, and channel it through local sports clubs - which is where every great champion starts out.”

To find out more about the initiative and what is going on in the area where you live, go to www.joininuk.org.

For a guide to some of the quirkier sports on offer, go to www.edp24.co.uk.

kate.scotter@archant.co.uk