For Tokio Myers, recording the new Team England anthem ‘Jerusalem’ combined his two passions – sport and music.

Ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, Britain’s Got Talent winner Myers teamed up with long jumper Jazmin Sawyers, who appeared in the singing competition The Voice last year, to revamp the famous hymn.

A 60-piece orchestra, a choir and several Team England athletes and their families also joined the pair at Abbey Road studios.

“Team England is everything,” said 33-year-old Myers, from London. “I was born here in England and I’ve grown up always watching sports.

“I used to be quite sporty growing up – not so much now because the music has taken over – but I used to play a lot of football and basketball, and I was great at running as a kid.

“It’s an exciting time and it’s going to be in Australia which is even cooler. The team is very excited to go out there and everyone I’ve spoken to is in good spirits.”

The new version of the song, which was made possible by Team England partner npower, will be played whenever England win a gold medal in Australia, meaning the song will be heard by millions of viewers worldwide.

Myers hopes it will boost the motivation of a team which means so much to him, and he reserved his highest praise for 23-year-old Sawyers.

“It’s very surreal and a very proud moment to be part of something so beautiful, so magical and so powerful,” he explained.

“To be able to combine what I love, music, with sport is something I’ve always wanted to do, so to have this opportunity has been awesome.

“I really admire Jazmin, and seeing her combine both things that she loves doing has been inspiring.

“She’s having to work twice as hard at the minute because obviously she’s got to compete at the Commonwealth Games, so she’s preparing for that and flying back and forth from overseas.

“It’s been inspiring to watch her go through the motions, and I’ll definitely be tuning in to her from all the way back here in sunny London!”

Myers says the creative process involved numerous edits to take the track from its original style to the modern, synth-infused finished product.

He has put his own twist on the song that was originally written by poet William Blake in 1804.

“‘Jerusalem’ a very powerful, iconic, uplifting, triumphant track,” said Myers.

“It was nice to make it a bit different from how people know it, without losing the stuff that we all know and love about the track, so it was a challenge.

“You grow up hearing it. It could have been in church, it could have come on TV, it could be anywhere. But it is something that I knew as a kid and it has the same powerful feeling.

“Certain things resonate with all ages, and this is one of those pieces that touches us not just as adults, but from kids to elderly – literally everybody.

“I’m sure my mum and dad will be really proud when they hear the anthem!”

Tokio Myers and Jazmin Sawyers have re-recorded ‘Jerusalem’, Team England’s Official Anthem ahead of Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in association with npower - the proud partner of Team England