London 2012 Roadshow to Visit the London Youth Games
The theme of this year’s Roadshow is ‘Join In’, aiming to encourage everyone – particularly young people – to be inspired by sport with a long-term aim of increasing their participation in the run up to 2012, creating a lasting legacy for the UK. The Roadshow will feature a demonstration area, where visitors can take part in ‘taster’ sporting activities from Sport England, including Taekwondo, Cricket, Basketball and dance and get details of clubs in the local area where they can continue to participate. On board the Roadshow bus, visitors can access the new 2012 Challenge website london2012.com, set their own challenge and be inspired by the Olympic Games to achieve it.
Visitors can join Matthew and Harry in The National Lottery Dream Stats Zone to find out what it takes to be a sporting champion and how to get more involved with sport. The Zone offers people the chance to try out the Dream Stats calculator – by answering a few simple questions, the online application matches their physical attributes and personal preferences to show what sports most suit them. Visitors can also assess their sporting aptitude for real, by taking a series of fun physical tests, with both athletes on-hand to offer advice and encouragement.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee commented:
“London 2012 will be a nationwide Games and the Roadshow is only the first part of our pledge to involve everyone the length and breadth of the UK towards, and including, 2012. I am delighted that the Roadshow is able to visit The London Youth Games to demonstrate first hand how this is being undertaken and get the local community involved. We want to encourage young people to develop their sporting ability, to achieve something for themselves or to inspire others to unearth their own talents. Visiting the London 2012 Roadshow is a great first step to accomplishing this.”
Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, said:
“I am determined to ensure that these will be a Games for the whole UK. That is why we are staging the second nationwide Roadshow to take 2012's message and inspiration to every corner of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Last year the focus was on 'being part' of the 2012 experience. This year it is on the big Olympic and Paralympic ambition – motivating people to take part in sport.
“Winning the right to host the Games has given us an extraordinary opportunity to transform sport in the UK – providing the inspiration, facilities and environment to radically increase participation, for both the able-bodied and those with disabilities.”
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England said:
“Our ambition is to get two million people participating more in sport by 2012. The London 2012 Roadshows have the power to inspire us all to play sport, from parents with their kids to older people wanting to keep fit. So we want everyone to come along, join in and get the sporting habit. This would be a sporting legacy we can all be proud of.”
A National Lottery spokesperson said:
“There has never been a better time to be inspired to get involved in sport, and the National Lottery Dream Stats Zone will offer people the opportunity to find out just what sport they might be suited to, via an exciting interactive programme. They can even take a number of fun physical tests aimed at further assessing their aptitude for a particular sport. The National Lottery is playing a major role in funding the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and the Roadshow represents a great opportunity to highlight this and thank Lottery players for their fantastic contribution.”
Mick Barlow, London Youth Games Ltd said:
“London Youth Games is proud to host the London 2012 Roadshow at our showcase event. Our Games has been providing competitive sporting opportunities for young Londoners for 30 years; affording participants experience of a large scale multi-sport event and ultimately producing athletes who will go on to representative honours.”
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London said:
“Winning the race to host the 2012 Games has put sport in London and across the UK firmly on the agenda. The arrival of the 2012 Roadshow at the London Youth Games, along with initiatives like the London Summer of Sport, is further demonstration of our determination to encourage sport, particularly among younger people, and deliver a real lasting sporting legacy from grassroots to amateur competition. The Youth Games allows both athletes and spectators to learn about the opportunities open to them and how they can participate in the spirit of the 2012 Games.”