One year to go for London 2012 Olympics
Today, 27 July in Trafalgar Square, London, President Rogge of the International Olympic Committee will address elite sports men and women around the world. He will invite them to form teams ready to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The final countdown will begin. An exciting year of outstanding sporting and cultural events in Britain will set the stage for the greatest show on earth next summer.
It has been a remarkable journey since London won the bid to host the Games in Singapore six years ago. The vision presented was to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change – putting athletes at the heart of planning, getting young people around the world to choose sport, and transforming East London.
With one year to go we are on track to deliver on every one of these commitments.
The London 2012 Games is already changing lives around the world through the International Inspiration programme, set up to fulfil our promise to reach young people around the world and connect them to the power of sport. The programme has now reached 10.8 million children in 16 countries and introduced them to high quality and inclusive sport and physical education, many for the first time in their lives.
For example here in Ghana, the partnership between Tema – Greenwich started about a year ago through the British Council Connecting Classrooms programme and the partnership is focused on Improving Sports and Culture in participating Schools by Imbibing the Olympic goals in pupils to make the Olympic values work effectively in their respective schools.
Back in Britain, a remarkable regeneration project has taken shape in East London. The largest new urban park in Britain for over a century is literally taking root, with over 2,000 trees and thousands of wetland plants creating a colourful backdrop for the 2012 Games and a haven for local people and wildlife in the years to come.
Striking new sports venues have been completed, on time and on budget. Designed by some of the greatest architects and engineers in their field, these not only offer outstanding facilities for the world’s top athletes but also demonstrate a remarkable commitment to put sustainability at the heart of the build, making London 2012 the ‘greenest’ Games in history.
And when the great Games are over, the stadia will provide first class sporting facilities in the Olympic Park for Londoners, while the Athletes’ village will also be converted into thousands of affordable homes. In fact, 75 pence of every pound being spent on the Olympic build is being invested in regeneration to achieve decades of progress in just a few years. Over the last few weeks, more venues have been completed – such as the new Basketball Arena, one of the largest temporary venues ever built for any Games.
The Mall in central London, which earlier this year drew the eyes of the world to watch the Royal Wedding, has hosted the very first test events for the Games – the Marathon and Race Walk. And Greenwich Park has this month witnessed fantastic displays of Equestrian events and the Modern Pentathlon as part of LOCOG’s ‘London Prepares’ test event programme that runs well into next year and at venues across the country.
Next month we will see an early preview of what is billed to be one of the iconic moments of the 2012 Games – the transformation of historic Horseguard’s Parade behind No 10 Downing Street into a beach volleyball venue. This is a place I know very well and used to commute daily until my arrival in Ghana. And the Games are already bringing people together in celebration and anticipation of the momentous year to come. Over 3.5 million tickets have now been sold, ensuring an incredible atmosphere throughout the Games.
Last weekend (22-24 July) communities across the country celebrated the One Year To Go point with London 2012 Open Weekend – sporting, cultural and artistic initiatives for everyone, including a floating cinema, interactive treasure hunt and children’s animation workshops. Volunteers were used for the first time at the London 1948 Games and now, for 2012, over a quarter of a million people right across our country have applied to volunteer as Games Makers.
So the task is now underway to select up to 70,000 who will become the face of London 2012. Whatever their role – be it collecting tickets or welcoming athletes at the airport – they will show what Britain is all about: excellence, passion and positivity. Across Britain too, people have been nominating friends and neighbours who they believe can inspire audiences across the world, to become one of 8,000 Olympic Torch bearers.
Representing peace, unity and friendship, the Torch Relay will help shine a light on the whole of Britain, from dynamic urban centres to areas of outstanding natural beauty, on its 70 day journey across the country. Evening celebrations in towns and cities will showcase the best of the local area, bringing people together to welcome the Flame’s arrival.
With one year to go, you will see on your television screens today the people of Britain celebrating the countdown to the Games. You will see Tom Daley, our young Olympic hopeful, perform the official launch dive into the Olympic Pool at the Aquatics Centre, one of the most impressive buildings on the new Park site. And you will see President Rogge, the Prime Minister, Lord Coe, Boris Johnson and a host of top athletes marking this milestone in central London.
But today is not just about the world’s athletes, nor about VIPs. It is about sending a message to every one of you here in Ghana and across the world that we in Britain look forward to welcoming you to our great nation.
Today and for the next 12 months until the Games, we want to show you what makes this country such a great place to live, work, visit, invest and do business.
To Ghanaian students, I invite you to a country that is home to four of the top ten universities in the world, and welcomes 2,600 of you each year.
To business people, I invite you to a country that is one of the most open economies in the world, a global transport hub, the easiest place in Europe to set up and run a business; a country that is second in the world for Nobel Prizes in science and technology, and home to one of the world’s largest and dynamic creative sectors.
To tourists, I invite you to a country that is home to a wide variety of stunning natural landscapes and lively, culturally-diverse towns and cities, including London, the great shopping capital. I invite you to a country that is home to three of the top five museums and galleries in the world, the best music festivals and 25 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the world-famous Tower of London.
And to sports fans, I invite you to the home of the Premier League, the most popular football league in the world and the home of the world’s first truly sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With 365 days to go, Britain stands ready to welcome the world to London.
Author: Peter Jones
British High Commissioner to Ghana
Today, 27 July in Trafalgar Square, London, President Rogge of the International Olympic Committee will address elite sports men and women around the world. He will invite them to form teams ready to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The final countdown will begin. An exciting year of outstanding sporting and cultural events in Britain will set the stage for the greatest show on earth next summer.
It has been a remarkable journey since London won the bid to host the Games in Singapore six years ago. The vision presented was to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change – putting athletes at the heart of planning, getting young people around the world to choose sport, and transforming East London.
With one year to go we are on track to deliver on every one of these commitments.
The London 2012 Games is already changing lives around the world through the International Inspiration programme, set up to fulfil our promise to reach young people around the world and connect them to the power of sport. The programme has now reached 10.8 million children in 16 countries and introduced them to high quality and inclusive sport and physical education, many for the first time in their lives.
For example here in Ghana, the partnership between Tema – Greenwich started about a year ago through the British Council Connecting Classrooms programme and the partnership is focused on Improving Sports and Culture in participating Schools by Imbibing the Olympic goals in pupils to make the Olympic values work effectively in their respective schools.
Back in Britain, a remarkable regeneration project has taken shape in East London. The largest new urban park in Britain for over a century is literally taking root, with over 2,000 trees and thousands of wetland plants creating a colourful backdrop for the 2012 Games and a haven for local people and wildlife in the years to come.
Striking new sports venues have been completed, on time and on budget. Designed by some of the greatest architects and engineers in their field, these not only offer outstanding facilities for the world’s top athletes but also demonstrate a remarkable commitment to put sustainability at the heart of the build, making London 2012 the ‘greenest’ Games in history.
And when the great Games are over, the stadia will provide first class sporting facilities in the Olympic Park for Londoners, while the Athletes’ village will also be converted into thousands of affordable homes. In fact, 75 pence of every pound being spent on the Olympic build is being invested in regeneration to achieve decades of progress in just a few years. Over the last few weeks, more venues have been completed – such as the new Basketball Arena, one of the largest temporary venues ever built for any Games.
The Mall in central London, which earlier this year drew the eyes of the world to watch the Royal Wedding, has hosted the very first test events for the Games – the Marathon and Race Walk. And Greenwich Park has this month witnessed fantastic displays of Equestrian events and the Modern Pentathlon as part of LOCOG’s ‘London Prepares’ test event programme that runs well into next year and at venues across the country.
Next month we will see an early preview of what is billed to be one of the iconic moments of the 2012 Games – the transformation of historic Horseguard’s Parade behind No 10 Downing Street into a beach volleyball venue. This is a place I know very well and used to commute daily until my arrival in Ghana. And the Games are already bringing people together in celebration and anticipation of the momentous year to come. Over 3.5 million tickets have now been sold, ensuring an incredible atmosphere throughout the Games.
Last weekend (22-24 July) communities across the country celebrated the One Year To Go point with London 2012 Open Weekend – sporting, cultural and artistic initiatives for everyone, including a floating cinema, interactive treasure hunt and children’s animation workshops. Volunteers were used for the first time at the London 1948 Games and now, for 2012, over a quarter of a million people right across our country have applied to volunteer as Games Makers.
So the task is now underway to select up to 70,000 who will become the face of London 2012. Whatever their role – be it collecting tickets or welcoming athletes at the airport – they will show what Britain is all about: excellence, passion and positivity. Across Britain too, people have been nominating friends and neighbours who they believe can inspire audiences across the world, to become one of 8,000 Olympic Torch bearers.
Representing peace, unity and friendship, the Torch Relay will help shine a light on the whole of Britain, from dynamic urban centres to areas of outstanding natural beauty, on its 70 day journey across the country. Evening celebrations in towns and cities will showcase the best of the local area, bringing people together to welcome the Flame’s arrival.
With one year to go, you will see on your television screens today the people of Britain celebrating the countdown to the Games. You will see Tom Daley, our young Olympic hopeful, perform the official launch dive into the Olympic Pool at the Aquatics Centre, one of the most impressive buildings on the new Park site. And you will see President Rogge, the Prime Minister, Lord Coe, Boris Johnson and a host of top athletes marking this milestone in central London.
But today is not just about the world’s athletes, nor about VIPs. It is about sending a message to every one of you here in Ghana and across the world that we in Britain look forward to welcoming you to our great nation.
Today and for the next 12 months until the Games, we want to show you what makes this country such a great place to live, work, visit, invest and do business.
To Ghanaian students, I invite you to a country that is home to four of the top ten universities in the world, and welcomes 2,600 of you each year.
To business people, I invite you to a country that is one of the most open economies in the world, a global transport hub, the easiest place in Europe to set up and run a business; a country that is second in the world for Nobel Prizes in science and technology, and home to one of the world’s largest and dynamic creative sectors.
To tourists, I invite you to a country that is home to a wide variety of stunning natural landscapes and lively, culturally-diverse towns and cities, including London, the great shopping capital. I invite you to a country that is home to three of the top five museums and galleries in the world, the best music festivals and 25 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the world-famous Tower of London.
And to sports fans, I invite you to the home of the Premier League, the most popular football league in the world and the home of the world’s first truly sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With 365 days to go, Britain stands ready to welcome the world to London.
By Peter Jones
British High Commissioner to Ghana