British special guest at the Nobel Prize Ceremony

What is the connection between the Nobel Prize and the 2012 Olympic mascot  Wenlock? Well, I’ve got the answer for you. Wenlock is in Stockholm waiting for the Nobel guests to arrive at today’s prize ceremony!

It is in the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock in England you will find the birthplace of the modern international Olympic Games. It was here, in 1850, that Dr William Penny Brookes first founded the Wenlock Olympian Society.

Now, 160 years later Wenlock’s role has provided the inspiration behind one of the 2012 London Olympic mascots unveiled in a blaze of global publicity.

We are helping our dear friend and mascot to travel the globe and to put Much Wenlock on the map. Go to this Facebook page and help to decide where he will turn up next!

//Helene

The Javelin – already an important part of 2012

On a recent trip to London, I had the privilege of a close-up view of the Olympic Park, it was amazing to see how quickly this incredible build is progressing. The Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre are taking shape and I’m convinced they will be worthy icons for our great capital and the games in 2012.

I was also lucky enough to experience one of the improved transport links that is already in place to serve Londoners and visitors for the games. I was so impressed I made a short film!

The Olympic Javelin Shuttle is a high-speed shuttle service that takes just seven minutes to get from St Pancras International to Stratford, a journey that would normally take, ‘quite a long time’ by underground!

This will be a major part of linking the games to the rest of Britain, so visitors can comfortably commute from the Midlands, Scotland and Northern England to the games. It is expected that over 80% of Olympic spectators will travel to and from the venues by rail. Services to the Olympic Park are projected to have a capacity of 240,000 travellers per hour, with around 25,000 of those using the Javelin service!

And you know what? For a train, I think it’s rather attractive. What do you think?

/Gary

Britain’s own Stella McCartney – Designing the British Kit for London 2012

British athletes will be looking fashionable in Stella McCartney’s creations while competing in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This was announced by the Official Sportswear Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Stella McCartney is the Creative Director for London 2012 and will not only design the British kit for Team GB and Paralympics GB but also sportswear for fans to purchase!

Watch the interview with Stella McCartney here.

/Siska

An evening with Sebastian Coe at the Bislett Games

Last Friday (4th of June), the British ambassador in Oslo Jane Owen, VisitLondon and VisitBritain invited Lord Sebastian Coe to talk about his connection to the Bislett Games and the preparations for London 2012.

The evening started at the ambassador’s beautiful residence where Barbara Jamison (VisitLondon) and Alan Ramirez (Premium UK), introduced how London is getting ready for “The World’s Largest Event” – London 2012. Thereafter, Lord Coe, who is also the chairman of the organising committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, shared his good memories from when he sat a total of four world records at three different distances at Bislett. Lord Coe was also an honorary guest at the Bislett Games.

At Bislett Stadion we watched great athletes’ like Andreas Thorkildsen, Carolina Klüft and Asafa Powell – this was three hours of athletic sports at its best. We also witnessed Kenyan David Rushdia win the 800-meter with the time of 1.42,04, not only setting a new world leading time but by that also deleting Lord Coe’s 31 year Bislett record!

I’m already looking forward to “The World’s Largest Event” and this evening was a great opportunity to showcase how London 2012 will become a multicultural sports happening that offers something for everyone.

/Siska

1,000 days left to London 2012!

 

Durdle Door, Dorset, site of the 2012 sailing competition

 

Today the real count down begins. Today is the 1,000 day mark on the count down to the Summer Olympics in London 2012. Are you ready?

- Towe -