Get Set Go Ealing!

---

Olympic Games Roadshow gets off the starting blocks in Ealing

As part of the preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to celebrate the fact that London’s Olympiad begins in August 2008, the Get Set London Roadshow will arrive at Haven Green in Ealing, on the March 1 at 10am.

London 2012, The Mayor of London and the London Development Agency (LDA) have created the roadshow to give Londoners a unique opportunity to find out how the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will increase jobs and skills opportunities and benefit culture, sport, business and regeneration in the capital and in their local borough. Ealing Council is committed to developing sport and leisure facilities in the borough and has invested in several new sport and leisure centres to help local people to get fit and active.

Councillor Nigel Sumner, Cabinet Member for Health and Community Well-being, will officially launch the event at 11:00hrs.

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee explained how the Games will benefit sport in the capital, “The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are a once in a lifetime opportunity for our capital city. Winning the right to host the Games in 2012 brings a wide range of opportunities to the city both on and off the sporting field – and inspiring young people and changing lives is the driving force behind our plans. We want London 2012 to be ‘Everyone’s Games’, with a wide range of opportunities for Londoners to get involved, not just in the summer of 2012, but starting now. Many of these opportunities already exist, and more will follow – and we are bringing the Get Set London Roadshow to Ealing to make sure residents are aware of the many ways they can join in and be part of 2012.”

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London commented on the legacy that London 2012 will bring to the capital, "The Games is already delivering its lasting legacy. We have seen a number of programmes start up providing support to businesses, improving skills, securing jobs and delivering infrastructure improvements, and it has been encouraging to see the eagerness of Londoners to realise their potential and get involved. Our launch of the Five Legacy Commitment Document sets out our aims and achievements to developing this legacy further, and the London Roadshow is key in ensuring we up our game to give everyone, from all backgrounds, the opportunity to benefit from the once in a lifetime opportunity the 2012 Games offer."

Manny Lewis, the Chief Executive of London Development Agency expanded on the business and skills opportunities at the Games, “The Roadshow is a fantastic tool to highlight how the LDA is delivering a legacy now through the Games. We want to engage as many people as possible with the training programmes and job opportunities. Our goal is to get 70,000 people across London into work by 2012.

“The borough visits will also reach out to local business communities. We will be able to offer advice in preparing their services for the Games and how to compete for contracts in everything from construction and tourism to hospitality and technology.”

Advisors from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will be on hand to provide information about Government funded on-the-job training schemes such as Train to Gain, which businesses can use to develop their staff skills in the run-up to London 2012.

Councillor Nigel Sumner explained the importance of the Roadshow to the borough of Ealing, “We’re delighted that the Get Set London Roadshow is visiting Ealing. There are some superb sports clubs based in Ealing and many young athletes, so this is a great opportunity for them to come and find out more about the Games.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games is a fantastic event and we want to make sure that residents and businesses in the borough benefit from all of the exciting opportunities that it will bring to the city.”

Through a range of different sized pods this unique Roadshow will then go on to visit all 33 London boroughs, between January – April 2008. These local events will take place in shopping centres, parks and town square and are aimed at the whole community. The pods will feature interactive sporting equipment, as well information on the opportunities for jobs, skills development and business in each local area.

As part of the roadshow event, musical acts have been auditioning for the incredible opportunity to perform during the Handover celebration in London in August 2008. ITV London has been filming the audition process for their flagship daily news show, London Tonight.

ITV London viewers are invited to vote for the acts by going to http://www.itvlocal.com/london/2012vote

A final will be held in Newham on Saturday 6th April 2008, for the coveted chance to perform at the handover celebrations in London.

February 28, 2008