Episode 1 CBBC's Olympic Games Challenge

The London 2012 Olympic Games kick off on Friday,

and across the country, people are getting set

for the biggest sporting event the UK has ever seen.

Here in Middlesbrough,

12 kids are stepping up to the challenge of a lifetime

to organise an amazing party for 1,000 local people

in a park in the centre of town to celebrate the start of the Olympics.

Over the next four days,

they'll invent some Olympic-inspired party food

with a bit of help from CBBC chef Stefan Gates,

develop a brand-new sport for the guests to play at the party

with sports mad Ore...

Come on!

..cast a line-up of local acts to entertain the crowds...

We together can do this.

..and create a dance routine to get the party rocking,

helped along the way by Cel from Friday Download.

That is what we do.

Everything has to come together for the party on Friday afternoon,

which will be broadcast live on CBBC.

But, first, team one need to get cracking with party HQ itself -

this tired old building in the park where the event will be held.

There's a stuffed bird in the shower!

They'll need to have a huge clear-out...

I want all this stuff to move in the storeroom.

..completely revamp the place, and they're racing against the clock.

So let's get cracking, guys.

This is CBBC's Olympic Games Challenge.

In just four days, this town centre park

is going to become a giant party venue for 1,000 local people.

Have these kids got what it takes to turn it into party HQ

in time for the live event on Friday?

It's going to be a massive challenge.

First up, 12-year-old cricket-mad Aleem.

Yes!

I don't have much experience doing decorating stuff

but I think I'm going to give it 100%.

I want to rise up to the challenge.

Next, 12-year-old dance-loving Lauren.

I've got unique and interesting ideas

and if I see something in my head,

it needs to be done correct. And I like taking charge as well.

And finally passionate creative 11-year-old Lily.

I think I'll be the perfect person to redesign the pavilion

because I could add a sense of style

in the walls, the colours, and the furniture.

Their determination to transform the pavilion really matters.

It used to be a place where kids hung out,

but council budget cuts mean there is now less money around

so it's fallen into disrepair.

Middlesbrough was once famous across the world

as a producer of iron and steel.

Shipbuilding and chemical factories followed,

but, in the past 30 years, many of these industries have dried up.

On top of that, there's less money around

to keep places like this open for kids to use.

Aleem, Lily and Lauren hope that transforming this place

for their Olympic celebration will give it a new lease of life

and make it a place their mates can use for years to come.

After we finish, I want people to take care of it

and know we've put hard work into it

to give it the good boost that it needs.

We want the full community coming to the pavilion.

Everyone can use it. That's what we're here for.

If you travel to big cities and you say Middlesbrough,

they don't know where it is.

But I think if we make over the pavilion in the park,

we'll get a lot more visitors from other places as well.

This challenge is going to be tough but luckily they're not on their own

because CBBC's Deadly Art crew - Jo, Nicola and Michelle -

are on hand to help turn their design dreams into reality.

Michelle's creative talents

will be leading the way in all things design,

artistic Jo is our go-to girl for huge scale wall art,

and Nicola is the woman with the power tools.

Today, the team are going to see the pavilion for the first time.

The place is in a real mess.

It's drab, in need of a lick of paint and there is junk everywhere.

First stop, reception, and it's starting to dawn on the kids

just how much work needs to be done.

I think the whole reception area needs to be brighter

because this is the first thing you're going to see when you walk in.

It was just not the sort of place I would walk into the building

and go, "Wow." I would go, "Oh."

Next up, the changing rooms.

It smells awful.

I don't think even the strongest perfume could cover this up.

Shall we have a look in the shower area

and just see what's going on in there?

-Eugh!

-Oh, there's a bird down there.

Oh!

-Yeah, that's not...

-There's a stuffed bird in the shower!

All in all, they need to transform the two changing rooms, staffroom,

main hall, reception area,

and the outside of the pavilion, all in time for the party.

There's a huge amount of work to be done

but before they roll up their sleeves and get stuck in,

Michelle wants to take them somewhere

for some truly Olympic inspiration

and it's a complete surprise.

We are going to be going behind-the-scenes

at the Olympic Park stadium

-for you guys to potentially get some ideas for your makeover.

-Oh, my God.

We've got a train to catch. We're going in about 20 minutes.

-Let's go, then.

-Are you up for it?

-Yes!

-Come on.

-Where will you be getting inspiration from tomorrow?

-The Olympic village.

I'm really excited to go to the Olympic Park tomorrow.

We'll get a lot of inspiration from there.

VIP passes. We're going to go into the park.

There will be nearly 15,000 athletes

taking part in the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic events

and millions here to see them.

As well as the spectacular velodrome and Olympic Stadium itself,

where the opening ceremony will take place on Friday,

the Olympic Park includes amazing artworks,

which Michelle wants the kids to reflect

in their redesigns of the pavilion.

It doesn't seem real.

Aleem, Lauren and Lily waste no time taking photos

of all the things they like,

including sculptor Anish Kapoor's massive structure, The Orbit.

You just don't realise how big it is until you go and see it in person.

I really like it because it looks like balloons, it looks like a party.

Can you imagine these types of colours

-all year round in the pavilion as well?

-Yeah, definitely.

They would even brighten the place up when it was cold and dark.

-What do you think of these?

-Amazing.

-They're really cool.

I love the fact that they're mirrored so you can see all around it.

It looks really nice.

Finally, this giant mural, which cleverly disguises

two ugly work buildings in the south of the park.

These colours, you wouldn't really see them together,

but they look really good together.

We had a really good day. It was lovely.

We have to put the hard work in now.

It was an absolutely amazing experience

and I'd love to go back again.

It's the first day of the makeover.

Before they can get creative, this place needs a serious clear-out.

Members of the local community have turned out to help.

The community haven't got the best of this building

for quite some time, I don't think.

It's been neglected and kind of forgotten about.

I think that the fact the kids are here is fantastic.

It's going to give us the opportunity to do a lot of things

with the pavilion that we didn't have

and we don't have at the moment.

Aleem, Lauren and Lily are firmly in charge

and start dishing out the orders.

Aleem, what do you want us to do with this stuff?

I want all this stuff to move in the storeroom.

After years of neglect,

it's time to throw open the shutters and let the light in.

The kids get started on revamping the reception and the main hall.

Following the trip to the Olympic Park,

the kids love the abstract mural and, with Jo's help,

use this as inspiration for the outside walls.

Like your mural that you were looking at here,

we're going to try and create a kind of big abstract mural.

Jo and the kids use a projector to experiment with the best layout.

I've done these drawings here of different sporting people.

I think that's what we should play around with.

I like how even when their overlapping,

it looks really good as well.

I like the pair of legs - you can use them

not just for a sprinter but for kicking a football, or something.

I quite like the idea of having the sprinter,

but the body and the legs, put them random places.

-That looks good.

-That's nice, isn't it?

-That looks good.

I found out Middlesbrough town has a motto. It's, "We will be."

I thought for the back wall, we could use those words.

That's good - it makes you feel proud of Middlesbrough.

It's saying that, "We're not going to change, we will be what we are."

The design sorted, they work out the colours they want to use,

inspired by the mural and the bright floor in the Olympic Park.

I think because we're doing other colours as well,

it also could look like a bunch of flowers.

OK, so I've got all your ideas. I know what I'm working with.

Are you happy for me to go away and design your mural?

ALL: Yes. Brilliant.

Our young makeover team loved the RUN and the Orbit structures

at the Olympic Park, and Nicola, taking on board their ideas,

has unleashed the power tools and started work on some wall art

made from recycled steel.

What does it say? ALL: Move.

And Aleem, Lauren and Lily aren't short of ideas on how to use it.

-We could use them as mirrors in the changing room.

-Great idea.

You could even use magnets

instead of pins on the ones that you back with steel.

We could make a magnet board and put photos!

The kids are excited to get to work on Nicola's wall art

but Michelle has other plans for them.

Time is so tight ahead of the party on Friday that Michelle needs

the kids to get cracking on separate rooms.

I'm setting you individual tasks and you've got until tomorrow evening

to get it completely finished.

Lily, you're going to be in charge of redecorating

the whole of the staff room.

Aleem, you're taking on the girls' changing room.

Lauren, you're taking on the boys'.

Based on their ideas, Michelle has come up with a design brief

for the two changing rooms and staffroom.

-Let's do it.

-Yeah.

The first day is nearly over

and they're going to have to get at least one coat of paint

on the walls if they stand any chance of completing this challenge.

It's the next morning, and if this pavilion

is going to be ready in time for Friday's party,

the kids need to make a start on a couple of other things

before they get back to their rooms.

First, the outside walls.

So where has Jo got to with their design ideas?

I'm ready to show you the design for the front wall.

-Wow.

-That's amazing.

Let's have a look at the back wall.

Those winning words, "We will be," will look like that.

Yellow really stands out, it looks really good.

So you happy with that? ALL: Yeah.

So they get started on the mural.

There's three walls to get painted white

before we even start with all the colours and things like that.

So I think we're going to have to find some help from somewhere.

And that help comes in the form of a group of local artists

who offer to get stuck in and help Jo and the kids out.

Next up, the wall art.

The kids need to help Nicola paint it and get it up.

I like they've taken our ideas. It looks good.

'There's a lot to do. They're doing really well.'

They're positive, enthusiastic, and they're working hard.

They're going to need to work hard

because there are only a few hours left

before the kids' rooms have to be finished. The pressure is on.

We have to second coat the walls. We've only got

a couple of hours left. We're struggling with time.

I'm worried about what the workers will think of the colours

because it's a big change from what they were before

but I just hope they like it.

Michelle wants to see how the kids are getting on

and checks in on Aleem.

-I can't really read any of the words here.

-Yeah, they're not together,

-it's all mixed up.

-It's all gone a bit wrong, hasn't it? Oh, no.

Have they all stuck together?

-I think they have.

-Aleem, what's happened to you, man?

-You were doing so well. This is not a piece of art.

-Not any more!

-This is a nightmare. How are you feeling?

-Bit nervous now.

A lot more nervous. I'm not 100% any more. I gave it a good shot.

This is your task. You're responsible for this room, yeah?

-So let's getting cracking, guys.

-Right, OK.

Meanwhile, in the boys' changing room,

Lauren is also feeling the pressure.

We've put so much time and effort into it,

and if it wasn't going to get finished

then it would be a really big disappointment.

The moment of truth has finally arrived.

Michelle gave them the challenge of decorating a room each.

First stop, the boys' changing rooms where Lauren has transformed

this characterless and depressing room into a bright, fun space.

-What do you think?

-Wow. I'm impressed.

-Oh, my.

What a big difference.

-Do you like it?

-Yes.

-I love that on the wall.

Very encouraging. It makes you want to win

cos he's obviously just crossed the finish line.

I wouldn't mind using this after a cricket game or football game.

-Job well done, then.

-High-five, everyone.

Yes. Yes. We did it!

Next up, Aleem's challenge was to tackle the girls' changing room.

With the help of Jo, he fought his way through the clutter

and turned this dull and dreary room from drab to fab.

I like the room.

I like how you've organised it all and I'd definitely use it.

So what do you think of the colours that Aleem chose?

-I can't believe you chose these.

-I'm impressed.

-So did Aleem do well?

BOTH: Yes.

100%.

Next stop, the staff room. Working with Nicola,

Lily has transformed this room from grey and grim

to soothing and relaxing.

-Gentleman. Welcome to your new staffroom.

-Well done.

-Well done, ladies.

-How good does this look?

-What a good job.

-Wow.

This just takes my breath away. It's superb. Can't praise them enough.

Aleem, Lauren and Lily have done an amazing job so far.

But their work isn't over yet.

As the rain starts to come down, the race is really on

to get the pavilion finished in time for Friday.

The mural on the outside is nowhere near ready

and there's a huge amount to be done before their Olympic party.

We've done it in two days, all of this beautiful work.

I'm really looking forward to working with all three of them

on the rest of the pavilion. I think it's going to be amazing.

I just can't wait for the live event

where the whole of Middlesbrough can come and see what work we've done.

They've really taken it in their stride,

they've got so much confidence. They're really smart kids.

They knew what they were doing.

I'm definitely up to the challenge

to make over the rest of the pavilion. Let's bring it on.

Next time, with the help of Stefan Gates

from CBBC's Incredible Edibles,

team two tackles the catering for the event.

Can they identify the taste of the Olympics

and come up with a medal-winning ice cream to serve at the party?