London Olympics 2012 Offers First Look at the Paralympic Torch

London 2012 Offers First Look at the Paralympic Torch

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has unveiled the Paralympic Torch to mark six months to go until the start of the Paralympic Games.

(PRWEB) February 29, 2012

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has unveiled the Paralympic Torch to mark six months to go until the start of the Paralympic Games. 

•      Paralympic Torch given mirrored finish to reflect the light of the Flame and teams of Torchbearers that carry it
•     33 communities across the UK to host Flame Celebrations over the August bank holiday weekend
•     Over 3500 people across the UK have been nominated to carry the Paralympic Flame
•     An image of the Paralympic Torch can be downloadedhere

Made from an aluminium alloy which was developed for the aerospace and automotive industry, the Paralympic Torch has been given a mirrored finish which means that its colour will adapt to its surroundings.

It will not only reflect the light from the Flame but also shine brightly on the teams of Torchbearers that carry it and the communities that it travels through on the way from Stoke Mandeville to the Olympic Stadium. With part of the 24 hour relay taking place overnight, the reflective nature of the Torch will help it shine brightly and stand out in the darkness.

Sharing the core design attributes of the Olympic Torch, the three sided form was inspired by the multiples of ‘three’ identified across London 2012. One of these is the Agitos, the symbol of the International Paralympic Committee. The three Agitos encircle a central point to emphasise the role the International Paralympic Committee plays in bringing athletes from all parts of the world together to compete. In the same way, the three sides of the Paralympic Torch encircle the Paralympic Flame.

Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: 'With six months to go until the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, we are on track to deliver a great Games that will showcase some of the most inspirational athletes from around the World. The Paralympic Torch Relay will provide the perfect start by involving people from across the UK in events celebrating the Flame and help the ignite passion for the Paralympics.'

Multi-medal winning Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson, said: 'The unveiling of the Paralympic Torch is an important part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay, as it will become the symbol that everyone recognises. With six months to go until the start of the Paralympic Games, I hope this will help build on the growing excitement and inspire the teams that are in line to carry the Flame from Stoke Mandeville to London.'

Designed by London-based designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for use in both London 2012 Relays, the design of the Torch was driven by a desire to reflect modernity and innovation. Being made from an aluminium alloy, it is light whilst having good strength and excellent heat resistance. Thousands of round perforations, made using cutting-edge laser technology, help ensure that heat from the flame is quickly dissipated without being conducted down the handle. The holes also make the Torch lighter and give it a strong texture that is easy to grip.

Created by working in partnership with Basildon-based product engineers Tecosim and Coventry-based manufacturers, The Premier Group, the Torch reflects the UK’s talent in design and manufacturing.

Barber and Osgerby said: 'We wanted to make the most of pioneering production technologies and to demonstrate the industrial excellence available in the UK. We are incredibly proud to be representing the UK, in design. We’ve worked hard to create a Torch that universally celebrates both the Paralympic and Olympic Relays and which reflects the passion for London 2012.'

Four Flames will be lit as part of a new concept for the Paralympic Torch Relay, one each in London, Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The Flames will be lit using the energy of physical human endeavour. Each nation will also host events celebrating the Flame Lightings. The four Flames will be united at the Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony at Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame. This Flame will be carried on a 24 hour overnight Relay to London and the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

Over 150 school teams from across the UK are taking part in STEM Challenge 9: The Paralympic Torch Relay Challenge, an Inspire mark project, where groups of 11 to 14-year-olds students are investigating how to create a spark by the energy of human endeavour to light the Paralympic Flame. STEMNET is shortlisting finalists, with the final taking place on Saturday 17th March at The Big Bang UK Science and Engineering Fair 2012. The winning team will receive prize money to support their school STEM Club and access to a Paralympic Torch Relay event.

33 communities from across the UK have taken the opportunity to host Flame Celebration’s over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Each celebration will be unique and have a flavour of the local area but will have the Paralympic values at its core.

In addition to the Flame Festivals and Flame Celebrations, the whole of the UK will be encouraged to help light the way to the Paralympic Games by lighting a lantern. To get involved, please visit http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/local-leaders/lantern-festival/

Sir Philip Craven, International Paralympic Committee President, said: 'I am delighted with the plans for the Paralympic Torch Relay as LOCOG and the IPC have worked closely to develop a concept that will not only capture the attention of the whole country but also act as a blueprint for Organizing Committees of future Games.

'I think it is brilliant that the actual Paralympic Flame, that will be used to light the Cauldron in the Opening Ceremony on 29 August, will be created at Stoke Mandeville, a place steeped in Paralympic history. The Games are coming home in six months time and it is only right that we celebrate the significance of Stoke Mandeville, the Paralympic Movement’s birthplace.'

The three Presenting Partners for the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay, BT, Lloyds TSB, and Sainsbury’s have each carried out a public nomination process to find some of the most inspirational teams across the UK to carry the Paralympic Flame. There were over 3500 nominations and they are now going through judging before the successful teams are announced in the next couple of months. The Relay will also include nominations from the International Paralympic Committee, the British Paralympic Association and other London 2012 sponsors.

Suzi Williams, Director, BT Group Marketing and Brand, added: 'Here at BT we’ve been involved in the Paralympics for decades and we understand the power of Paralympic sport to inspire all of us. The unveiling of the Paralympic Torch design today – with just six months to go - will help to inspire the teams of amazing people we’re bringing together to run with the Flame.'

Sally Hancock, Director, 2012 Partnership and Group Sponsorship at Lloyds Banking Group said: 'As the only Presenting Partner of both the Paralympic and Olympic Torch Relays, Lloyds TSB is proud to be bringing the spirit of the Games closer to communities.

'We had a fantastic response from the public last year, nominating people who have supported and inspired people in their community to carry the Paralympic Flame. With six months to go until the start of the Relay it’s great to see the excitement building as the Paralympic Torch is unveiled and communities prepare to celebrate at Flame Festivals around the UK.'

Gwyn Burr, Customer Service & Colleague Director at Sainsbury’s, said: 'We have been overwhelmed by the stories of determination, inspiration and courage which have been shared with us as part of our UK-wide nominations process. We look forward to sharing these stories with our customers and colleagues once the successful teams have been announced and to seeing the efforts of these incredible people rewarded with a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience.'

Notes to editors

Paralympic Torch Relay dates and events:
24 August 2012 - London Flame lighting event
25 August 2012 – Greater Belfast area Flame lighting event and Flame Festival
26 August 2012 - Edinburgh Flame lighting event and Flame Festival
27 August 2012 - Cardiff Flame lighting event and Flame Festival
28 August 2012 - Stoke Mandeville special ceremony to bring together all four Flames to create the Paralympic Flame and 24 hour relay begins
29 August 2012 - Paralympic Flame arrives at the Stadium in time for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games

More information about the London 2012 Torch design: 

•     The Torch is made up of an inner and an outer skin. These skins are held in place by a cast top piece and base.
•     Although appearing completely seamless the Torch body is actually made from six components.
•     The 8,000 circles offer a transparency that allows people to see right to the heart of the Torch and view the burner system which will keep the Flame alive.
•     It is 800mm tall which will allow for it to be seen above crowds even when carried by the youngest Torchbearer.
•     The final Torch will house a burner system that will feed the Flame.
•     The construction helps to ensure that the weight of the Torch is once again kept to a minimum whilst conveying great simplicity.

The London 2012 multiples of three: 

•     Three Olympic Values – respect, excellence and friendship
•     The UK has hosted the Olympic Games three times
•     The vision for London 2012 combines three strands of work – sport, education and culture
•     The three Agitos

London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services, operating in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

BT is the official communications services partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.

In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group’s revenue was £20,076 million with profit before taxation of £1,717 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

Enquiries relating to BT’s nomination programme for Paralympic Torch Relay Torchbearers should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369.

Lloyds TSB is the exclusive Banking & Insurance Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and partner of the London 2012 ticketing programme and the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays. The Bank is committed to inspire and support young people, businesses and communities across Britain in the lead up to London 2012.

As a National Presenting Partner for the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the spirit and inspiration of the Paralympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland. Be the first to hear how to follow the Paralympic and Olympic Flames, through our customer-exclusive programme Trackside. For more information on how Lloyds TSB is helping take the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to all corners of Britain.

Sainsbury’s is proud to be a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay. Sainsbury’s is committed to promoting a healthier, more active lifestyle for all, regardless of ability, and supporting the values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality on which the Paralympic Movement was founded.

Sainsbury’s will be using its partnership of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay to engage and celebrate those who make a lasting difference in attitudes towards disability in the UK and create opportunities for change in disabled people’s lives.
Sainsbury's is the first ever Paralympic Games-only sponsor and this landmark commitment to the Paralympic Movement is the largest sponsorship ever of a Paralympic Games.

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9239277.htm

Giant Olympic Rings Launched on the River Thames

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today launched a set of giant Olympic Rings onto the River Thames as he announced a programme of cultural events to celebrate London 2012.

(PRWEB) February 28, 2012

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today launched a set of giant Olympic Rings onto the River Thames as he announced a programme of cultural events to celebrateLondon 2012.

From 21 July – 9 September, live music, outdoor arts and 'pop up' events will take place throughout London. Ranging from an original fusion of ballet and film to a floating opera, the programme will provide extra opportunities to get involved with the London 2012 Festival

Boris Johnson was joined by Ruth Mackenzie, Director of the London 2012 Festival, to make the announcement.

He said: 'We're creating the biggest festival of outdoor arts ever to be seen in the capital, as well as fantastic new work that will throw new light on some of our city's lesser-known landmarks and hidden gems.

'Wherever you are you will feel a part of the 2012 celebrations and experience a summer like no other in one of the most exciting cities on earth.'

Free cultural events

As part of the London 2012 Festival, the Mayor has commissioned a series of free cultural events called Secrets: Hidden London. Taking place across the city, the programme includes a floating opera inspired by The Owl And The Pussycat and Like a Fish out of Water, an English National Ballet creation capturing the nostalgia of three of London's lidos.

London 2012 Festival Director Ruth Mackenzie said : 'With millions of free tickets and opportunities to take part, Londoners and tourists will truly have a summer like no other, thanks to the partnership between the Mayor's office and London 2012 Festival.'

Outdoor arts festival

Supported by Arts Council England, the Mayor has also created Showtime, London's biggest ever outdoor arts festival, which will see the best of outdoor performance brought to every borough.

Tony Hall, Chair of London 2012 Festival and Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, said: 'As well as the London 2012 Festival, the Mayor of London’s programme of free cultural events across the whole of London gives every Londoner the opportunity to share in these celebrations wherever they live.'

Find out more about the Mayor of London's programme of events

Find out more about the London 2012 Festival

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9234671.htm

London 2012 Olympics Test Events

London 2012 to Stage 11 Further Test Events

The world class sporting events, which take place between 18 April and 8 May, will test elements including venue operations, spectator flows, workforce, security, the field of play, scoring, timing and results and conclude the 42 event London Prepares series.

(PRWEB) February 27, 2012

The world class sporting events, which take place between 18 April and 8 May, will test elements including venue operations, spectator flows, workforce, security, the field of play, scoring, timing and results and conclude the 42 event London Prepares series.

Six events will take place in the Olympic Park over seven days from 2-8 May, giving LOCOG the first opportunity to test the common domain and multiple venues at the same time. Particular focus will be put on the events that take place concurrently on the Olympic Park on Saturday 5 May when the park will host up to 80,000 visitors over the course of the day.

Tickets to Hockey, Synchronised Swimming, Wheelchair Tennis, Water Polo and Paralympic Athletics, will go on sale to the general public at 10:00 on 15 March, giving spectators the chance to see world class competition in Olympic and Paralympic venues. Prices range from £3- £20 and are available viahttp://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/londonpreparesseries

Access to Wheelchair Rugby, Shooting, Paralympic Archery and Boccia will be allocated to local residents, members of National Governing Bodies and athletes’ friends and families.

The BUCS Visa Outdoor Athletics Championships will take place in the Olympic Stadium from 4-7 May with tickets available to members of BUCS. Details on public access to the Olympic Stadium on Saturday 5 May will be released in due course.

Debbie Jevans, London 2012 Director of Sport, said: “We are now in the home straight and having staged 31 successful test events we are in a good position as we head towards the Games themselves. As with all our test events we will be testing a range of our event operations including field of play and also our workforce. During our programme of six events in the Olympic Park over a seven day period we will also be able to focus on our overall Park operations outside of the sport venues and this will be invaluable.”

Olympic sponsors Visa continue to show their support for the London 2012 Games and international sport with individual sponsorship of five events. While UK Sport also part fund the Paralympic athletics event. As a proud sponsor of London 2012. Visa (debit, credit, prepaid) is the only card accepted for online ticket sales for the London Prepares series.

Ticketed test events:

Apr 18-22 FINA Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification, presented by Visa. Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park. Tickets £5- £20

Apr 23 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualification Play-Off Match, City of Coventry Stadium. Tickets £5-£10

May 2-6 Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament, Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park. Tickets £5- £15

May 3-6 Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International, Eton Manor, Olympic Park. Tickets on sale for 5 May £3- £5

May 3-6 Visa Water Polo International, Water Polo Arena, Olympic Park. Tickets £5 - £15

May 8 Visa London Disability Athletics Challenge, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park. Tickets £5

Football tickets: http://www.theticketfactory.com/footballtournamentqualification

Non ticketed test events:

Apr 18-19 London International Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament Basketball Arena, Olympic Park.

Apr 18-28 ISSF Shooting World Cup, The Royal Artillery Barracks.

May 3-6 London Para Archery International Tournament, The Royal Artillery Barracks.

May 4-7 BUCS Visa Outdoor Athletics Championships, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park.

May 5-7 London Boccia Invitational 2012, Basketball Arena, Olympic Park.

Notes to editors:
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

UK Sport
UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme distributes approximately £3.5 million of Lottery funding each year to support the bidding and staging costs of major events on home soil, as well as providing specialist support to organisers. Ahead of London 2012, events are supported primarily based on their likely performance impact, but consideration is given to the broader impacts of events: to maximise the wider sporting, social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits, as well as sporting performance and legacy.

Over 100 events, hosted by at least 35 different towns and cities, will have been supported from 2007 until the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These competitions will have attracted around 30,000 athletes and provided opportunities for over 27,000 officials and volunteers to gain international sporting experience and develop key skills ahead of London 2012.

About Visa Europe
In Europe, there are 445 million Visa debit, credit and commercial cards. In the 12 months ending September 2011 those cards were used to make purchases and cash withdrawals to the value of €1.7 trillion. 14% of consumer spending at point of sale in Europe is with a Visa card, and almost 80% of that is on Visa debit cards.

Visa Europe is owned and operated by more than 3,700 European member banks and was incorporated in July 2004. Visa Europe is independent of global Visa Inc., with an exclusive, irrevocable and perpetual licence in Europe, while both companies operate to ensure global interoperability. As a dedicated European payment system Visa Europe is able to respond quickly to the specific market needs of European banks and their customers - cardholders and retailers - and to meet the European Commission’s objective to create a true internal market for payments.

Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world. In addition, Visa/PLUS is one of the world’s largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in over 200 countries.

For more information, visit http://www.visaeurope.com 

About Team 2012
Team 2012 presented by Visa is a fundraising programme designed to provide UK athletes with the tools and support to reach their full potential and win more medals at European Championships, World Championships – and of course at the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012. It is a joint venture between the British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB, UK Sport and LOCOG. Alongside the vital role played by The National Lottery and Exchequer funding, Team 2012 will help fund our athletes over the next two years. The vast majority of funds raised through Team 2012 will be distributed by UK Sport through its World Class Performance Programme which ensures that the UK’s most talented athletes have every chance of reaching their potential. Having run their programme since 1997, UK Sport has developed a highly successful ‘No Compromise’ approach, which ultimately means taking no short cuts in resourcing the best athletes to realise their medal ambitions. Funding is provided to athletes via their sport’s governing body, in support of a performance programme that includes coaching, training and competition support, medical and scientific services and equipment and access to the best facilities.

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9230616.htm

London Olympic Highlights of the Week

IOC Announces Olympic Highlights of the Week

This weekend, IOC President Jacques Rogge will be in Lusaka (Zambia), where he will visit the Olympic Youth Development Centre, accompanied by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke.

(PRWEB) February 24, 2012

This weekend, IOC President Jacques Rogge will be in Lusaka (Zambia), where he will visit the Olympic Youth Development Centre, accompanied by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke.
President Rogge will be accompanied on this occasion by IOC Vice-President Thomas Bach; African IOC Executive Board (EB) members Nawal El Moutawakel and Sam Ramsamy; the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Lassana Palenfo; and the IOC member in Zambia, Patrick Chamunda.

The delegation will also visit the Fountain of Hope centre where UNICEF is running a project focusing on the rehabilitation of street children and out-of-school children and young people through sport. This project is part of the “International Inspiration” programme, the official legacy programme of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The IOC President will also meet the President of the Republic of Zambia, Michael Sata.

MEMBERS
Mario Pescante has announced that he is stepping down from his position as IOC Vice-President. This resignation will come into force at the Olympic Games in London this summer.

Andrés Botero Philipsbourne has been appointed as Director of Colombian sports institute Coldeportes. On the occasion of this appointment, the members of the Colombian NOC Executive Board paid tribute to him through an audio and video montage retracing his career as an athlete and sports leader.

COMMISSIONS 

As announced last week, the 5th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport, chaired by Anita L. DeFrantz, ended with the unanimous approval of the Los Angeles Declaration by more than 800 delegates from 135 countries. This declaration aims to promote parity between men and women in sport and to use sport as a tool to improve women’s status throughout the world. Organised jointly by the IOC, the United States Olympic Committee and the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, the theme of this Conference was “Together Stronger: The Future of Sport”.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
On 20 February, 64 boxers and 14 boxing coaches started their journey to London 2012 by taking part in the first International Boxing Association (AIBA) “Road to London” training camp. This camp, which will be held in Cardiff (Wales) until 10 March, is part of AIBA’s “Road to Dream” programme which allows athletes and coaches from developing countries to participate in two-week training camps. AIBA will invite all the boxers qualified for the 2012 Games to a second camp which will take place in Cardiff from 5 to 24 July.

The 122nd Aerobic Gymnastics (Level 3) Academy took place recently in Cali (Colombia). This was the first time that this event had taken place on the American continent. Thirteen coaches from seven Hispanic member federations of the Pan-American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) took part. The delegates included Hardy Fink, the Director of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Education and Academy Programmes.

The first International Swimming Federation (FINA) School for Swimming Officials of 2012 was held in Tunis (Tunisia) on 11 and 12 February. Some 30 participants listened to lectures given by Søren Korbo, FINA Technical Committee Honorary Secretary, and Olugbenga Lawal, FINA Technical Committee member. The objectives of this programme include increasing the number of officials, enhancing the quality of officiating and creating uniform interpretation and application of rules across all aquatic disciplines, thus raising the quality of refereeing. The next classes will take place in St Petersburg (Russian Federation), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Johannesburg (South Africa).

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced the names of the 42 technical delegates who will officiate at the London 2012 triathlon competition. These officials come from 25 different countries, which is a new record (three more countries than for the previous Games in Beijing).

WINTER IFS
We have learnt through an International Ski Federation (FIS) press release that, for the first time in the history of skiing, Turkey will host a World Championship skiing competition. From 19 to 26 February, the world’s best Nordic junior athletes and under-23 cross-country skiers will compete in the Turkish resort of Erzurum, which hosted the Winter Universiade last year. A total of 35 teams have been entered for this international competition. Furthermore, the “Marc Hodler” Trophy, which is named after the former FIS President, will be awarded to the most successful team across the three disciplines of cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of the German NOC Thomas Bach, who is also an IOC Vice-President, recently presented the Sport for All Trophies in Berlin (Germany). The “Stars of Sport” trophy was awarded to the Märkische Turngemeinde Essen-Horst association for its “United Sports” programme for children and young people. This association shows how sport, linked with social education, can bring together people from different cultural backgrounds in an exemplary way. The SV Ahorn 1910 sports club, represented by its President, Klaus Leonhardt, also received a trophy for its integrative approach, offering mixed training groups for the disabled and the able-bodied.

We have just learnt that, at the Plenary Session of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), which was held at the end of December, COC President Liu Peng handed over the 2011 IOC “Sport and Social Responsibility” Trophy to the Beijing Sport University, represented by its President, Yang Hua. Also featuring on the agenda of this session were the NOC’s work in 2011 and preparations for the Games in London.

Last week in Cali, the “Building the Dream for London 2012” project was launched. The objective of this project is to familiarise the Colombian delegation to the London 2012 Games with the English language and culture. It includes numerous joint initiatives with the Colombian NOC, the British Embassy and the British Council. The personalities attending the launch ceremony included Ambassador John Dew and NOC President Baltazar Medina. Furthermore, the NOC and the Colombian Association of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Faculties (Arcofader) signed an agreement, joining forces for research and innovation training.

In Singapore, the Tote Board organisation has been awarded the 2011 IOC “Sport and Social Responsibility” Trophy. Teo Chee Hean, the Deputy Prime Minister and President of the NOC of Singapore, presented the trophy to Bobby Chin, Chairman of Tote Board, in the presence of Ser Miang Ng, IOC Vice-President. Tote Board has made a great contribution to sports development, building sports facilities and financing sports programmes.

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team.

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9225884.htm

London Symphony Orchestra with London 2012 Olympics

London Symphony Orchestra Set to Strike a Chord with London 2012

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) has awarded the contract to record the core orchestral soundtrack for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies to the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) – one of Britain’s world leading orchestras.

(PRWEB) February 23, 2012

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) has awarded the contract to record the core orchestral soundtrack for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies to the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) – one of Britain’s world leading orchestras. 

•      London Symphony Orchestra to record the core orchestral soundtrack for London 2012 Opening and Closing Ceremonies

The LSO draws on an enviable roster of soloists and conductors, including Principal Conductor Valery Gergiev, LSO President Sir Colin Davis, and Principal Guest Conductors Daniel Harding and Michael Tilson Thomas. The Orchestra is set apart from other international orchestras by its depth of commitment to music education, reaching over 60,000 people each year.

The award-winning programme, LSO Discovery works locally, nationally and internationally, with thriving community projects both in London and the UK and on tour. Continuing the Orchestra’s long association with film music, the LSO has recently recorded soundtracks for Twilight: New Moon, Tamara Drewe and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Parts 1 & 2).

Sebastian Coe, London 2012 Chair, said: ‘The London 2012 Ceremonies are an opportunity to promote the UK’s world leading culture and creative industries to over 4 billion people around the world. We’re delighted that one of Britain’s world leading orchestras will be recording the orchestral music for the shows.’

Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, said: ‘The London Symphony Orchestra is honoured and delighted to be the Orchestra of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The LSO aims to make great music available to everyone and the Olympic and Parlaympic opportunity will reach people of all ages across the world. The experience of world sport and music brings people of all nationalities and backgrounds together with a common purpose and we are thrilled to be part of the Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies here in London.’

Kim Gavin, Artistic Director of the Olympic and Paralympic Closing Ceremonies said: 'We’re delighted to be working with the LSO, a world renowned orchestra, to record the core orchestral soundtrack for the ceremonies. Music has been Britain’s strongest cultural export of the last 50 years and we intend to produce an Olympic Closing Ceremony that will be a unique promotion of great British popular music. For the Closing Ceremony, which will be titled ‘A Symphony of British Music’, we will not only be working with our most globally successful musicians, but we also want to use this opportunity to showcase our stars of tomorrow.’

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'Music is without doubt a supreme pleasure, stirring the emotions and marking key moments in our lives. From pop to classical, the range and quality of music in London is second to none and as we welcome the world for the 2012 Games, we have a fantastic opportunity to trumpet one of our greatest cultural exports. From the Opening and Closing Ceremonies to BT London Live and even to busking, there will be wonderful music to suit all tastes, creating the ultimate musical soundtrack to a summer like no other.'

Photos
New photos of the Kim Gavin and the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony Creative Team in the Olympic Stadium during ceremonies lighting testing can be downloaded here

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

For further information about the London Symphony Orchestra please contact Dvora Lewis PR:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7435 9257
Email: dlpr(at)dvoralewis(dot)com

Notes to Editors:

About the London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading orchestras. Its many activities include an energetic and ground breaking education and community programme, LSO Discovery, LSO Live, the Orchestra’s own record label, a music education centre LSO St Luke’s and pioneering work in the field of digital music. For more information visit http://www.lso.co.uk

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and two domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Suppliers, Otto Bock and Panasonic. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9222382.htm

London 2012 Velodrome Praised by World's Best Track Cyclists

The London 2012 Velodrome has been praised by riders as the UCI Track Cycling World Cup presented by Samsung concluded yesterday with an overall victory for Great Britain who won five gold medals and broke two world records.

(PRWEB) February 20, 2012

The London 2012 Velodrome has been praised by riders as the UCI Track Cycling World Cup presented by Samsung concluded yesterday with an overall victory for Great Britain who won five gold medals and broke two world records.
Download images from the event here

The atmosphere created by the thousands of fans who filled the London 2012 venue was labelled “incredible” by British rider Geraint Thomas with the Velodrome track hailed as “really fast” by Canadian athlete Tara Whitten and “a wonderful track to ride on” by Britain’s Victoria Pendleton. The UCI also praised the “quality facilities”, “excellent arrangements” and “unique atmosphere” in the venue.

340 riders from 48 nations and 18 trade teams competed in the four day competition where teams rode competitively in the Velodrome for the first time. The Great Britain team stole the show with two world records for Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott and Dani King in the women’s team pursuit and Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish in the team sprint. Joanna Rowsell also won a gold medal in the women’s pursuit on Saturday before the electrifying atmosphere hit another level when Sir Chris Hoy won his second gold medal on Sunday in the men’s sprint following his win in the Keirin.

As well as being a World Cup and the penultimate qualifier for London 2012, the event was key in testing London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) operations ahead of the Games. Key testing elements included testing the track, athlete flows in the venue, results and timing systems, sport presentation, as well the 1000-strong workforce and volunteers.

Debbie Jevans, LOCOG Director of Sport said of the event: "It was thrilling to see the Velodrome in full-swing with fantastic sport, thousands of spectators and a live TV audience. The UCI Track Cycling World Cup has given us a glimpse of the atmosphere and excitement we can expect in the Velodrome this summer. That said, we have learnt a lot from the staging of this event and will continue to speak to the teams, athletes and UCI to gain valuable feedback as we make our final preparations ahead of the Games. Finally I would like to thank the UCI, UK Sport and our sponsors whose support enabled us to stage the event”

Ed Clancy, Great Britain team rider said of the Velodrome: “The place was alive in there, it was pretty special. We’ve never experienced an atmosphere like that and I am sure the low roof helps.”

Pat McQuaid, President of the UCI said: “The final assessment of the competition held in the British capital was very positive. The quality of the facilities that will host the Olympic events, the excellent arrangements made by LOCOG and the unique atmosphere of this weekend’s competitions in the Velodrome give the best possible guarantee of success for the six days that will be devoted to the Olympic track programme.”

Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, which backed the event through its National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme, said: “The UCI Track Cycling World Cup hosted at the Olympic Velodrome in London was a great success; a fantastic benchmark performance from the cyclists and their support team, a valuable test of this new world class venue, and a wonderful showcase of what the British public can look forward to this summer, adding to the excitement that continues to build across the UK as the home Olympic and Paralympic Games approaches.”

The iconic Velodrome, with its distinct double-curved roof which has been designed to reflect the geometry of the cycling track, will host Olympic and Paralympic indoor track cycling events on the 250 metre track during the Games from 2-7 August. After the Games the Velodrome will form part of a facility which will include a BMX Track, one-mile long road cycle circuit, 6km of off-road mountain bike tracks and storage for over 300 bikes. It will also include a café and a 360 degree concourse level offering views over the Olympic Park and the London skyline.

The UCI Track Cycling World Cup presented by Samsung is supported by UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme. The results can be viewed on the UCI Track Cycling World Cup presented by Samsung website

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

Notes to editors:

About the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI):
Founded in 1900, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body of cycling. Headquartered in Aigle, Switzerland, the UCI is the International Federation of Cycling uniting the National Cycling Federations of 178 countries.

UK Sport - World Class Events Programme:
UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme distributes approximately £3.5 million of Lottery funding each year to support the bidding and staging costs of major events on home soil, as well as providing specialist support to organisers. Over 100 events hosted by at least 35 different towns and cities will have been supported from 2007 until the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These competitions will have attracted around 30,000 athletes and provided opportunities for over 27,000 officials and volunteers to gain international sporting experience and develop key skills ahead of London 2012.

About British Cycling:
As the national governing body for cycling, British Cycling is responsible for governing the development of the sport in England and is also the home to the GB Cycling Team which won 34 medals at the 2008 Beijing Games making it Britain's most successful Olympic and Paralympic sport. With London 2012 on the horizon, British Cycling has a once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire mass participation in the sport and together with BSkyB, its principal partner, aims to get one million more people cycling regularly by 2013. To facilitate this increase in participation, British Cycling manages a range of coaching qualifications and courses, from grassroots level to elite, and runs the Go-Ride development programme for young people to support their progress in the sport. It also underpins and co-ordinates the organisation of over 3,000 sporting and recreational cycling events every year. British Cycling has over 40,800 members who enjoy a range of benefits from retail discounts and special offers, to legal support and insurance. All membership revenue is invested back into the sport. The organisation also receives Lottery and Exchequer funding via UK Sport and Sport England.

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9211950.htm

Support for Team GB at London 2012 Olympics

Band together to show your support for Team GB at London 2012 Olympics

As the creators of the Official Jewellery Collection of London 2012, Links of London have designed the Team GB band as part of their Official Collection of Team GB.

London (PRWEB UK) 18 February 2012

Intended to represent the support and Genuine Belief in yourself and others, the members of Team GB are wearing it with pride. The band utilises Great Britain’s national colours of red and blue, with a silver plaque inscribed with ‘Team GB’.

With less than 200 days to go until the London Olympic Games, the nation is looking for ways to get involved and show support for the British team and help inspire the nation to get behind its athletes in the lead up to the Games.

Personalities all over the world have been showing their support by wearing the band. Stephen Fry tweeted “Thanks to Links of London for my #LOLGBBand. Glad to show my support for Team GB. #London2012”

David Riddiford CEO of Links of London commented “Links of London have a history of supporting leading sporting events. Our distinctive British style makes us the natural choice to create the Official Jewellery Collection of London 2012. The Team GB band is a great way for everyone to get involved in the Games and get behind our teams. We look forward to celebrating London 2012”

The Official Jewellery Collection of London 2012 includes gifts as well as beautiful women’s and men’s ranges; all wonderful keepsakes, perfect to celebrate the Games.

Available on the Links of London website and from all Links of London stockists, the Team GB band retails at £20; it is set to be the ‘must-have’ accessory of the Games.

About TVC
For more information and talent imagery please contact the Press Office:
Patrick Ellerington or Amy Miller patrick.ellerington(at)tvcgroup(dot)com / amy.miller(at)tvcgroup(dot)com
0207 535 5800

About Links of London
The Official Jewellery Collection of London 2012 is available nationwide in Links of London stores and online athttp://www.linksoflondon.com as well as selected stockists which include the official London 2012 outlet stores and http://www.london2012.com/shop.

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/links-of-london/official-team-gb-band/prweb9191005.htm

London Olympics Diving Test Event

World's Best Come to London for Diving Test Event

Over 250 of the world’s best divers will compete at the 18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup 2012 from 20-26 February, the last qualification opportunity for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

(PRWEB) February 17, 2012

Over 250 of the world’s best divers will compete at the 18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup 2012 from 20-26 February, the last qualification opportunity for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Amongst the world-class line up are Chinese Olympic champions He Chong and Chen Ruolin. Chong is 2008 Olympic individual 3m Springboard gold medallist and three-time world champion while Ruolin is double Olympic champion, winning both the 10m Platform and Synchronised 10m Platform.

China is known as the dominant force in Diving but Matt Mitcham, who will represent Australia at the test event, could threaten their hopes for a gold rush at the World Cup. Mitcham became the only non-Chinese athlete to win a Diving gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games when he won the Individual 10m Platform.

The British team have named 13 athletes, including Synchronised 10m pair Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield and rising star Jack Laugher, who is current Junior World Champion in both the Individual 3m Springboard and Individual 1m Springboard. Tonia Couch, Britain’s most celebrated female diver who placed eighth in the Individual 10m Platform at the Beijing Games and has finished in the top 10 in the last two FINA World Championships, will also line up for GB.

The competition, which is part of the London Prepares series of test events and supported by Visa, UK Sport and British Swimming, will be the first sporting event to be held at the spectacular Aquatics Centre and the 31st test event to be staged by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG).

The event will test key elements of the venue operation and logistics such as lighting, results, scoring, workforce and timing while providing an ideal opportunity for athletes and team officials to compete at the venue ahead of the 2012 Games and offer feedback on LOCOG's plans.

London 2012 Director of Sport Debbie Jevans said: 'With less than 200 days to go until the start of the Games our testing continues to be a priority. Welcoming spectators into the Aquatics Centre for the 18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup 2012 will give a fantastic opportunity to see the world’s best divers compete in an Olympic venue and will also provide us, the organisers, with a unique chance to test our operations.'

FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione said: 'We are very happy to be here in London for this FINA Diving World Cup, which also constitutes a Test Event for the 2012 Olympic Games in this exciting city. FINA and LOCOG have worked very closely during the past years and months and it is now time to see if this hard work is fruitful. From everyone’s feedback on the Aquatic Centre, this facility is amazing and will certainly constitute an asset for the success of FINA's disciplines at Games time. I am sure that this World Cup will also be a milestone and I look forward to witnessing the performances of our best athletes next summer during the Olympic celebration.'

UK Sport's Director of Major Events and International Relations, Simon Morton, said: 'The FINA Visa Diving World Cup in London will be the fifth diving event, and the 11th aquatics event, UK Sport has supported through our Lottery funded Major Events Programme since 2007.

'Competing at the Olympic venue represents a fantastic opportunity for our athletes, while the experience will be invaluable to our coaches and support staff, to help ensure they are best prepared for the home Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in less than six months time.'

Colin Grannell, Head of Partnership Marketing at Visa Europe said: 'As a sponsor of the Olympic Games for more than 25 years, we know that the 18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup 2012 will be a great opportunity for people to preview of one of the most popular competitions of the Olympic Games. This qualifying event will be crucial for Team 2012 and international athletes to reach their goal of competing this summer.'

David Sparkes, British Swimming Chief Executive, said: 'We are really excited about the upcoming 18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup. This event, which will be the first major event in the London 2012 Aquatics Centre, will showcase most of the World’s Diving stars.

'What a great opportunity this will be for our GBR Diving Team to take on some of their competitors in the Olympic venue and give us all an insight to what the Olympics will all be about.'

For more information, visit http://www.londonpreparesseries.com/diving.

Notes to editors:
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

FINA
The Fédération Internationale de Natation, FINA (founded in 1908) is the governing body for aquatics worldwide. Its five disciplines - Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming - are all included in the Olympic programme. FINA organises World Championships, World Swimming Championships in 25m-pool and World Masters Championships every two years. FINA counts 202 affiliated National Federations on the five continents and has its headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).

About Visa Europe
In Europe, there are 445 million Visa debit, credit and commercial cards. In the 12 months ending September 2011 those cards were used to make purchases and cash withdrawals to the value of €1.7 trillion. 14% of consumer spending at point of sale in Europe is with a Visa card, and almost 80% of that is on Visa debit cards.

Visa Europe is owned and operated by more than 3,700 European member banks and was incorporated in July 2004. Visa Europe is independent of global Visa Inc., with an exclusive, irrevocable and perpetual licence in Europe, while both companies operate to ensure global interoperability. As a dedicated European payment system Visa Europe is able to respond quickly to the specific market needs of European banks and their customers - cardholders and retailers - and to meet the European Commission’s objective to create a true internal market for payments.

Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world. In addition, Visa/PLUS is one of the world’s largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in over 200 countries.

About Team 2012
Team 2012 presented by Visa is a fundraising programme designed to provide UK athletes with the tools and support to reach their full potential and win more medals at European Championships, World Championships – and of course at the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012. It is a joint venture between the British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB, UK Sport and LOCOG. Alongside the vital role played by The National Lottery and Exchequer funding, Team 2012 will help fund our athletes over the next two years. The vast majority of funds raised through Team 2012 will be distributed by UK Sport through its World Class Performance Programme which ensures that the UK’s most talented athletes have every chance of reaching their potential. Having run their programme since 1997, UK Sport has developed a highly successful ‘No Compromise’ approach, which ultimately means taking no short cuts in resourcing the best athletes to realise their medal ambitions. Funding is provided to athletes via their sport’s governing body, in support of a performance programme that includes coaching, training and competition support, medical and scientific services and equipment and access to the best facilities.

UK Sport
UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme distributes approximately £3.5 million of Lottery funding each year to support the bidding and staging costs of major events on home soil, as well as providing specialist support to organisers. Ahead of London 2012, events are supported primarily based on their likely performance impact, but consideration is given to the broader impacts of events: to maximise the wider sporting, social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits, as well as sporting performance and legacy.

Over 100 events, hosted by at least 35 different towns and cities, will have been supported from 2007 until the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These competitions will have attracted around 30,000 athletes and provided opportunities for over 27,000 officials and volunteers to gain international sporting experience and develop key skills ahead of London 2012.

About British Swimming
British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain. It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (ASA), Scotland (Scottish ASA) and Wales. (Welsh ASA) British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

London 2012 Games partners:

The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9207500.htm