Kate Middleton and Prince William Tap into Their Sporty Sides at London's Olympics Park

Kate Middleton and Prince William are going back to their sporty roots!

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London on Thursday to support Coach Core, a program celebrating its 10th anniversary that trains young people to become coaches and encourages the next generation of athletes.

Kate and Prince William, both 40, are no strangers to getting a little competitive on royal outings, from joining different teams in sailing races to facing off in a sprint on a track.

The royal couple got involved with several young people associated with the charity and got a taste of some of the sports sessions offered. Prince William was spotted taking hits at a boxing bag and kicking a soccer ball, while Kate played a round of seated bocce ball.

Kin Cheung/AP/Shutterstock Kate Middleton and Prince William

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HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Prince William

Prince William gave a speech at the event, saying that he and Kate were "as always, delighted to be here with you."

"Sport has an incredible way of providing hope, connection and opportunity, and when Coach Core was established ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, it was designed to use that power to help change young people's lives," he said.

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HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Kate Middleton

The Prince of Wales added, "We all face barriers and challenges in life, and these can sometimes take incredible bravery to overcome. Not only have you faced these down, you have positively impacted the lives of others along the way and inspired many more. We are incredibly excited to see what the future holds for all of you."

The Coach Core program was launched by Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry as part of the Royal Foundation in 2012. The sporting initiative, which is now an independent charity, was formed in response to the London riots and to capture the spirit of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton

Coach Core works across 17 different sites in the U.K. and has helped over 750 disadvantaged young people start meaningful careers with sports coaching apprenticeships. The charity — which is also supported by ambassadors from the sports world including England Lioness and Manchester City captain Steph Houghton, six-time Olympic medallist Max Whitlock, tennis legend Judy Murray and elite gymnastics coach Scott Hann — also have a five-year agreement in place with Sport England to become a systemic partner of change.

In 2020, Prince William opened the Coach Core Awards with a video message, voicing his pride at their achievements, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton and Prince William

"This year more than any in the program's history, Coach Core's apprentices have had to overcome challenges, adapt and learn to be flexible in the face of difficulty," he said. "I am so proud, both of your individual accomplishments this year and of Coach Core itself."

Over the years, the royals have been heavily involved in the program. In 2018, Kate and Prince William visited South Essex Gymnastic Club where they took part in games of tennis and Boccia (with Kate competing in heels!).

Neil Mockford/GC Images Kate Middleton and Prince William

In 2017, Kate visited the Aston Villa Football Club to see the work of Coach Core in action, and a month earlier she was joined by Prince William and Prince Harry at their annual awards ceremony.