London 2012 Roadshows come to the East Midlands

The annual London 2012 Roadshow, which kicks off next week, will visit Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire during its UK tour.

Supported by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Roadshow’s theme is ‘Join In’, which encourages sports participation, particularly among young people.  It also aims to encourage people to get involved in coaching. The bus will visit the Lincolnshire County Show on 20th and 21st June and the Northamptonshire Youth Games on June 30th.

It is organised by the London 2012 Organising Committee, in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), Sport England and national sports councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and The National Lottery.

At each of its 27 stops in its ten week tour the Roadshow will offer taster sessions in a range of traditional and exciting new sports for visitors to try. Professional sports advisors will also be on hand to encourage visitors to find out more about sporting clubs and facilities in each location.

The Roadshow will also include a National Lottery ‘Dream Statistics’ zone, to enable visitors to see how their statistics – height, weight, and muscle power – might make them more suited to different sports.

Ministers, local MPs and sporting ambassadors will attend regional events throughout the tour.

The Roadshow will carry London 2012’s new brand, which was launched in London on this week.

Seb Coe said: “The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are the UK’s Games. This year’s Roadshow will show the whole country how everyone can be part of the 2012 Games, and everyone can benefit from the legacy long after the final race has been won.

“Improving sports participation has long been one of our most important legacy objectives from the Games, and this year’s Roadshow will focus on just that. Every visitor at every event will have a range of opportunities to try new sports and learn about sports facilities in their local area. This country already has a passion for sport – and deepening that passion for playing sport and coaching sport will be an important legacy which will outlast us all.”

Tracy Croft, Regional Coordinator for the 2012 Games at East Midlands Development Agency (emda) said: “We are delighted to welcome the London 2012 Roadshow to the region. The Games are already generating significant interest among the business community, and we hope that these events will stimulate public interest and highlight the health and sporting benefits of the Games.  It is a great opportunity for local people to find out what is happening in the run up to the London 2012 Games and opportunities that may be available”.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: “I am determined to ensure that these will be a Games for the whole UK. That is why we are launching the second UK-wide roadshow to take 2012’s message and inspiration to every corner of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“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.

“In addition, we’ll use the Roadshow as an opportunity to take our ideas for the exciting wider legacy from 2012 to the UK so people have a chance to contribute their views at this crucial stage.”