19th April 2012

WEST DORSET: Local Leaders wanted to help guide Olympic celebrations

OLYMPIC bosses have launched an initiative to help people play an active role in bringing their friends, family and community members together to celebrate the big event.

The London 2012 Local Leaders will suggest ideas and tools to help people bring their community together for celebrations to make the most of the Olympic and Parlaympic Torch Relays, the 12 week UK-wide London 2012 Festival or the Olympic and Paralympic sports action.

People can sign up to be a Local Leader at www.london2012.com/localleaders and can play an active part now in preparing their community for international attention when the torch arrives in the UK.

More than 7,000 Local Leaders have already signed up.

Among them is Keith Brignell who will co-ordinate Portesham village groups for the arrival of the Olympic Torch on July 12th. It is intended to hold a village fete in the garden of the Kings Arms with bands, flags and bunting to greet the torch as it passes.

Keith will also plant beds of marigolds along the torch route. There are plans for a cross country fun run too and the evening will finish with an outdoor barn dance after the Olympic Flame has passed. The event will involve village community groups and local bands.

Ideas for celebrations include Garden for the Games which provides Local Leaders with hints and tips from gardening experts on how to plant seeds now that will turn window boxes down people’s streets red, white and blue.

Once the Olympic Torch flame arrives in the UK on May 18th, Local Leaders are being provided with ideas and tools to help bring the community together to welcome the flame and celebrate their local heroes by lining the streets and showing what makes their community special for the 70 day UK wide relay.

On July 27th the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games will be watched by over a billion people around the world, and Local Leaders will be given invite cards, recipe tips, party sheets and more to help them turn their screening of the event into an Olympic themed venue, whether it is in a village hall, pub or living room.

August 4th is Super Saturday - the day when the most medals are awarded during the Olympic Games. Local Leaders will access recipe ideas to help host barbecues and a day of activity in their homes, gardens and community centres.

For the Paralympic Torch Relay, Local Leaders can help celebrate the national flame lightings in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales by lighting up every corner of the UK with a lantern. Local Leaders will be able to access hints and tips on how to take part in a lantern procession and decorate lanterns with good luck messages for their local Paralympic athlete.

Finally, for the last day of the Paralympic Games on September 9th Local Leaders will be provided with ideas to bring together friends, family and neighbours for a Sunday get-together to see out an unforgettable summer in style.

By signing up at www.london2012.com/localleaders Local Leaders will get access to London 2012 branding, posters and toolkits. Whether the Local Leader invites three friends or their whole community, London 2012 will provide them with the tools to make their celebration one to remember. They will also be able to put their celebration events on the London 2012 Join In listings website, giving local community celebrations exposure on what will be one of the most visited websites in the world this year.

Peter Meadows, from More than Gold said: ‘The initiative of Local Leaders will change the 2012 Games from a spectator event to an engaging experience for communities everywhere.”

WEST DORSET: Local Leaders wanted to help guide Olympic celebrations

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