Calling all Local Leaders

Press Release: 03/04/2012

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games today launched an initiative to help individuals within communities play an active role in bringing their friends, family and community members together to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the UK this summer.

By signing up to be a Local Leader at www.london2012.com/localleaders people can play an active role in preparing their community for international attention when the Torch arrives in the UK on May 18. Local Leaders will get access to London 2012 toolkits that provide ideas on how to make the most of the London 2012 Games, bring their community together to welcome the flame, celebrate their local heroes and show exactly what makes their community special.

Councillor Ian Carr, Leader of Test Valley Borough Council said “Local Leaders will have a real impact on how their families, friends and neighbours celebrate London 2012.  It’s very exciting to think that this year the Olympics will be something everyone can be involved in.  I hope that residents across the Borough will take the opportunity to become a Local Leader and show Test Valley at its very best”.

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.  Celebration events can be added to the London 2012 “Join In” listings website which will give local community celebrations exposure on what will be one of the most visited websites in the world this year.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘Local Leaders are brilliant organisers in every community around the country and play an active role in celebrating national events at a local level. Through this programme Local Leaders will help provide opportunities for everyone around the UK to join in with the London 2012 Games.’

LOCOG has worked with community groups across the UK, including the Scouts, Girl Guides, NHS, YMCA, Rotary International, Garden Organic, Sport England, Sport Wales, Sport Scotland, Sport Northern Ireland, SAGA, Mumsnet, Women’s Institute and English Heritage, to inform people about the Local Leaders initiative. Over 7,000 Local Leaders have already signed up and now, Games organisers are putting the call out to the whole nation to encourage individuals who are keen to play an active role in celebrating the Games this summer to sign up at www.london2012.com/localleaders.