Because, normally, you rarely see them.

Television timetables are usually stuffed full of football, rugby and more football, but during the ordinary course of the year many sporting competitions seem to just slip under the audience radar.

But that does not mean that people in Northamptonshire are not doing these sports, as the majority of the Olympic events are represented in the county through classes or clubs.

So it is not surprising that Northamptonshire Sport has just been awarded £350,000 community investment funding from Sport England, the majority of which is set to be spent over three years in promoting and encouraging participation in some of the Olympic sports ahead of the 2012 London games.

Northamptonshire Sport's senior sports manager, Gary Sheppard, said: "I think it is a bit early at this stage to see what the impact is after Beijing.

"I think we could probably make the case that there is a growing number of places that cater for these sports, such as trampolining at Benham Sports Arena and tennis facilities at Weavers Leisure Centre.

"I think there are a growing number but there are gaps in the facilities. There is an argument that there are not enough high quality swimming pools, although Corby is building a 50-metre swimming pool.

"But for the first time in quite a while we have the resources to provide some of the Olympic sports which aren't necessarily the traditional sports in this country.

"We have a project now where we are looking to get more involved with the Olympic sports ahead of 2012."

He continued: "Four years away it would be too late to see a real impact on 2012, but UK sport has set itself a target."

The goal, he explained, will be to use funding to get people interested in some of these sports and offer coaching opportunities.

He added: "A large section will be spent on making sure there are enough local clubs with the right skills to make sure that, if a young person is interested in a sport, they are in the right place to go and do it."

Have you been inspired by the Olympics? Here the Chron throws the spotlight on a few of the clubs and classes which could provide training grounds for Olympic champions of the future...

Fencing
The Northampton Fencing Club was launched in the town more than 60 years ago and is still going strong today.

Its members have had a good stab at competition levels, clinching an impressive array of fencing titles, not least Michael Amberg's Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 1950s.

Chron columnist and former fencing club committee member, Steve Scoles, said: "I got to my mid-20s and reached that stage blokes get to when they realise that they are not doing sport at school any more and are losing their formerly athletic physique.

"I wanted to do something but it had to be something I was interested in. I had seen a lot of swashbuckling films and I knew I would be interested in doing sword fights. But then I got into it and it became interesting in its own way."

The 40-year-old, from Semilong, added: "Typically, you are attempting to be the first to make 15 hits on your opponent.

There are three weapons: the foil which you start with, the epee which is along the lines of a duelling sword, and a sabre, which is based on a cavalry sword."

He continued: "I do epee and that is the least rule bound of the three.

"A bout is three minutes long and it tends to go in short bursts of intense, physical activity."

Today the club still meets regularly at the John Ashby Sports Hall, Moulton College, and runs beginners courses for those interested in starting the sport.

For more information, log on to www.northamptonfencing.org

Taekwondo
When it comes to taekwondo, there is a fine line between seeing this martial art as a sport or an effective form of self-defence.

At the Northampton Taekwondo Schools (pictured), run by instructor Darrin Bonfield, more than 100 people of all ages and both sexes join up to either keep fit or learn to protect themselves against attacks.

The international form taught by Mr Bonfield is slightly different from the world taekwondo style used in the Olympics, but the principles are similar.

In total, there are about 3,500 potential moves to learn, ranging from basic self defence manoeuvres to the higher level jumping and spinning kicks.

Taekwondo is a traditional Korean sport which literally means 'the way of kicking and striking' and it has developed over thousands of years.

Mr Bonfield, aged 37, who lives in Wootton, holds regular classes at Roade and Brixworth primary schools.

As well as classes for adults and older children, there is also a 'lil' dragons' session for children aged between four and six.

Mr Bonfield commented: "Some people join simply for fitness and some people join for mobility. Other people tend to use it for self defence."

Students work their way up to different grades, earning a series of belts and tags to show their ability.

Mr Bonfield, who has been practising taekwondo for 20 years, said: "It is definitely increasing in popularity. Within Northampton, my classes have increased over the last couple of years, they have doubled in size.

"People are now interested in looking after themselves. We are seeing many more attacks happening in the world."

For more information about Northampton Taekwondo Schools, log on to www.northampton-tkd.co.uk

Archery
For wannabe Robin Hoods in Northamptonshire, there are about five archery clubs to choose from.

One of the best known is the Northampton Archery Club, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary.

The club meets regularly at Sywell Range between Kettering and Northampton, where both able and disabled members join together to fire arrows at a target.

But, when it comes to archery, club president Peter Bond believes British competitors need more funding and support from the Government to compete in the Olympics.

He said: "When you see the Koreans or the Chinese shooting, these people have been training since the age of 12, and they are training for the Olympics in the future.

"They are spending a couple of hours a day in school and the rest of the time they are doing archery.

"Then you have the jolly Jack Englishman who comes along and has a full time job. No-one is backing them whatsoever and we are going against the Koreans and Chinese."

For more information about the local club, log on to www.geocities.com/northamptonac

Wrestling
Wrestling instructor Mick Fage has nearly 20 years experience in the ring, but confessed the sport has seen some dramatic changes in terms of what is allowed.

Mr Fage, age 38, runs his own wrestling school in which students travel from around the country to take part in one-to-one training.

The wrestling expert, who lives in Desborough, said: "My dad used to watch it when he lived in London and he would tell me all about it.

There was no wrestling in this area, so I went to a judo club, which is like wrestling with a jacket on."

From there he moved on to wrestling, and he has seen definite changes in competitive wrestling over the years.

He explained that, nowadays, Olympic wrestling is based on pins, where competitors have to get the back of someone's shoulders on to the floor.

Previously, the competitive sport contained submissions such as chokeholds; moves which bring a fight to an end because they force the other person to give up.

Mr Fage said: "It has got watered down over the years.

Wrestling has a history in this country when miners used to come up from the pit and wrestle each other for entertainment.

They were tough and it was violent over the years, but then it was made into an Olympic sport."

He continued: "Wrestling attracts people from all walks of life really, but you have to be dedicated. You have to train every day of every week."

For more information log onto www.schoolofwrestling.com