2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

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2012 Olympics and Paralympics

Over 200 nations take part in the Olympic Games, and 150 take part in the Paralympic Games, making it the largest worldwide event and a truly global spectacle. 

Around 70,000 volunteers help the 22,000 competitors and officials and a media pack of 30,000 cover the event broadcasting and reporting to every corner of the globe.

Ahead of the much anticipated London Olympic Games, the UK’s Olympiad began in 2008, and promises four years of events and celebrations to involve and inspire the nation leading up to the Games. 

The Olympic Games in London open on Friday 27 July until 12 August, with the Paralympic Games opening a month later on Wednesday 29 August.

In Brighton & Hove, Yellowave, the Beach Volleyball venue in Maderia Drive, has been accepted and registered as an official pre-training camp site for the games.

• Background
• Sport & Physical Activity
• Sports Grant Scheme
• Cultural Olympiad
• Volunteering
• Schools, colleges & universities
• Business
• Tourism

 

Our 2012 Legacy

Brighton & Hove City Council will work with partners from health, sport, tourism, culture, business and education to ensure that the cultural and sporting legacy of Brighton & Hove 2012 Olympiad will:   

• Improve the health and wellbeing of the city's residents
• Build and grow the city's cultural and sporting offer
• Deliver economic benefit to the city

Latest News from London 2012

Calling Brighton & Hove Olympians and Paralympians

We need your help to find the past, present and future Olympians and Paralympians with strong connections to the city - those athletes who have competed in previous Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, those currently training for London 2012, or those future athletes who have the talent and the determination to succeed in their sport.

As part of our “looking forward to 2012” programme of events and celebrations we would like to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of these athletes. The more well known include Steve Ovett OBE, Sally Gunnell OBE, Ben Quilter and Simon Munn (both Paralympians).

But what about the achievements of others? We are asking you to look back into the city’s sporting history to unveil sports men and women of the past and to tell about future stars. These athletes could be people who were born in Brighton or Hove; went to school, college or university here; have lived in the city for some time; or have competed for one of our sports clubs. We want to make sure we celebrate all our former, current and future Olympians and Paralympians.

If you know about people you think should be included please contact Pauline Freestone, 2012 Coordinator, tel 01273 293312 or email pauline.freestone@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Film Nation - 2012 Opportunity for young film makers

Film Nation Shorts provides young film makers with the chance to get their work showcased at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The best work will be screened at iconic venues during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to an audience of millions. Annual regional and national awards ceremonies will also take place between 2010 and 2012.

The programme also provides young people with the opportunity to meet professional film makers and learn new skills using the latest state-of-the-art equipment.

Young film makers aged 11-25 are invited to create short films (of no longer than three minutes) that celebrate the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games ie respect, courage, excellence, friendship, equality, determination and inspiration.

Eligible films can be a documentary, drama or animation.

The competition has now opened to applications. The first deadline is 1 October 2010. See http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/cultural-olympiad/major-projects/film-nation.php for more details.

Do you have what it takes to be a Games Maker?

 

With less than two years to go until the London 2012 Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced plans to recruit up to 70,000 volunteers for the London 2012 Games. In the biggest post-war volunteer recruitment campaign in the UK’s history, LOCOG will be looking for dedicated and inspirational people who represent the diversity of London and the UK to apply for a wide variety of volunteer roles. Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: “London 2012 needs brilliant volunteers to help us deliver a great Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our volunteers will be called Games Makers to reflect the important role they will play in staging the 2012 Games".

• Pre-indentified applicants for specialist roles to apply from 27 July 2010 onwards
• Applications for generalist roles to open on 15 September 2010
• Young Games Maker programme for up to 1,500 under-18 year olds opens in 2011

Those interested in the more numerous general volunteering positions can go to www.london2012.com/volunteering. The generalist roles include ticket checking, uniform distribution, staffing helpdesks and information points. 

From 27 July 2010 people can also sign up to be a London Ambassador. In this role you would to help guide the millions of visitors around London helping them enjoy a truly memorable stay in the capital.

The scheme, devised by the Mayor of London, aims to recruit 8,000 London Ambassadors who will be located at key points across the city - including transport hubs, outside Games venues, and at popular visitor spots. They will be the welcoming face of the capital, providing much needed information on what to see and do, where to stay and how to get there.

• Find out more about volunteering in sport and physical activity in Brighton & Hove

London 2012 Inspire Programme

An Olympic and Paralympic first for Brighton & Hove, the London 2012 Inspire Programme officially recognises outstanding non-commercial projects and events inspired by the Games.

Sport, culture, education, sustainability, volunteering and business opportunities all feature.  Projects are assessed by London 2012 and the International Olympic Committee, and those approved can carry the London 2012 brand, through the Inspire Mark, on a wide range of marketing materials. 

In Brighton & Hove the Primary Schools Language and International Project , our Free Swimming programme and Spring Forward - a festival for adult learning - have all been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark, and we hope many more will follow.

For more news go to the 2012 London Games news page

London 2012 reveal Olympic lanes

Special "Games Lanes" totalling near 60 miles will be introduced on key roads to speed athletes and officials to the 2012 London Olympics.

The lanes will be in addition to the Olympic Route Network (ORN) which will be roadwork free, cover 2.5 per cent of London's roads, will be used by 82,000 people and cost around £25 million. 

The lanes will include the areas around Wembley Stadium in West London, Lord's cricket ground where the archery will take place, through central London and out to the main Games site at Stratford and also out to Greenwich in South London.

The ORN, which will include measures such as closing side roads, banning turns and altering traffic light sequences, will comprise more than 100 miles in London and around 170 miles outside London.

The ORN will be used by 18,000 athletes and officials during the Olympics as well as 6,000 during the Paralympics.

Among those also eligible to use the ORN will be judges, referees and umpires, around 28,000 representatives of the media and 25,000 sponsors and their guests.

Transport Minister Theresa Villiers says "experience in other host cities shows how vital this network is."

Useful links

Official London 2012 website: www.london2012.com   

Sport England is responsible for promoting and investing in sport, helping the government meet its sporting objectives in this county and distributing both lottery and government funds to sport www.sportengland.org.uk  

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is leading on 2012 Games www.dcms.gov.uk 

Active for Life is Brighton & Hove’s website providing up to date information on sports, physical activity groups and clubs www.activeforlife.org.uk  

Website for the Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority. The Olympic Delivery Authority is accountable to the Government and the Mayor for managing public money that will be spent on the infrastructure. www.london.gov.uk 

The official guide to Brighton & Hove’s hotels and tourist information www.visitbrighton.co.uk  

Brighton & Hove’s Arts Commission www.brightonandhoveartscommission.org.uk