TWO of Huddersfield’s Olympic heroes are to help launch a sporting masterplan for Kirklees.

The sportsmen, cyclist Ed Clancy and runner Derek Ibbotson, span more than half a century and the aim is they will capture the imagination of local youngsters to go on and try to match their achievements.

Ed, who won gold at the Beijing Olympics this summer, and former athlete Derek, 5,000 metre bronze medallist at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, will be at the Galpharm Stadium on Tuesday next week.

Ed, who used to ride for the Holme Valley Wheelers club, and lifelong Longwood Harriers member Derek will be joined by a number of up-and-coming sports people to describe their individual sports experiences.

They are backing a plan to get people more involved in sport and recreation.

The Sporting Pathways, Partners For Action strategy has been drawn up by Kirklees Sport and Recreation Partnership.

Partnership chairman Phil Longworth said: “The next few years will be an incredibly exciting time for sport and active recreation. The London Olympics in 2012 will give us an unprecedented opportunity to raise the profile of sport and increase levels of participation at all levels across Kirklees.

“By working in partnership we can make a real difference and lay the foundations for a lasting sporting legacy in Kirklees up to and beyond 2012.”

The plan’s aims are to get people in Kirklees more physically active and that sport and leisure facilities will be of better quality, better managed and more accessible.

Sports clubs have been consulted on the plan.

The launch event will include a summary of the vision, values and themes of the strategy by its author, David Heddon.

Mr Heddon is chairman of the board at Kirklees Active Leisure, which runs sports centres in Kirklees.