There was Royal approval as the University of Bedfordshire continues to build towards the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex visited the beautiful surroundings of the Putteridge Bury campus on Thursday lunchtime during his visit to Luton.

Prince Edward, Patron of the British Paralympic Association, saw presentations on globalised education linked to London 2012 and also launched a page on social networking site Facebook.

Using Facebook, the University wants to create a network of youngsters internationally who share an interest in both the Olympics and educational success.

The founder members are the 15 cultural ambassadors from some of Bedfordshire’s schools and colleges who went to Beijing in August 2008 during the Olympic Games. The initiative was organised by the University in partnership with the Bedfordshire Olympic Opportunities Support Team (BOOST).

Although the University is looking to build links with all countries represented on the International Olympic Committee, the initial emphasis is on the major Commonwealth nations, particularly from the Indian sub-continent and East African countries such as Kenya.

Each of the cultural ambassadors will be assigned to a country and aim to further develop relationships electronically with youngsters and their schools and colleges.

They will recruit youngsters with strong educational potential, including those facing educational disadvantage.

Steve Kendall, Associate Dean of the Partnership Office at the University who set up the Beijing visit, said: “We wanted a way of sustaining and enhancing the trip to Beijing and this is it.

“The Earl of Wessex has an interest in the Commonwealth, sport and young people and it all knits together well.

“We want to provide a link between sporting excellence and academic excellence. It’s about inspiring young people to succeed and to reach their potential.”

One of the four cultural ambassadors present who visited Beijing was inspired to become a University of Bedfordshire student.

Eighteen-year-old Amy O’Neil from Luton is a first year student studying sports therapy.

Amy said: “We saw some of the events in Beijing and the finals of the athletics. We also visited places like the Great Wall of China and met ordinary Chinese people.

“Also we spoke to one of the physios for the Lithuanian national team when we were out there and his words helped to influence me.

“I think my course is great and it’s more practice than theory based which suits me!”

Three other cultural ambassadors also met The Earl of Wessex and they were all Year 12 students – Shaunagh Craig from Sharnbrook Upper School, Stuart Kemp from Redborne Upper School and Alexandra Hopkins from Dame Alice Harpur School.

Among the other many distinguished guests were the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon CBE, the chairman of its development board, Derek Ludlow CBE DL, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations), Professor Ashraf Jawaid, and its Professor of Sport, Professor John Brewer, who sits on the National Olympic Committee.