Bringing The Olympics To You 

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has today launched two new public participation programmes.

The ‘Local Leaders’ initiative is an invitation to people across the South East to take the 2012 Games into their community and create their own celebrations next year, for the Olympic Torch Relay and other key moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. People are encouraged to sign up to the Local Leaders programme at www.london2012.com/localleaders to receive further information on a range of themed celebration ideas focusing on the Opening Ceremony evening, gardening, quizzes and barbecues and to be in the front row to receive free London 2012 event materials.

Also launched today at www.london2012.com/getset is the ‘Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay’ education resource, available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012’s official education programme. The aim of the resource is to provide schools with cross-curricular resources aimed at teachers working with 3 to 16 year olds to aid learning around history of Olympic Torch Relays, the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and the Torch itself. A further resource will launch next year to encourage schools to plan a welcome for the Olympic Flame and show support for the Torchbearers. Lloyds TSB, the official Education Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, has launched the Flame Followers schools programme which complements the Get Set resources, and gives schools once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be right at the heart of the excitement and celebrations of the Relay.

South Bucks District Councillor Anita Cranmer, Portfolio Holder for Community says, “The District Council has been working very hard over the past four years to bring the Olympics right into the heart of the community. It has organised a variety of activities and events for local school children, residents and local businesses. I would encourage schools, local groups and residents who want to get even more involved to visit these websites to see what else there is to offer…..together we can really bring the games to every door step in South Bucks.”