London 2012
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http://london2012.olympics.com.au
London Games
Few expected London to become the Host City of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Up against New York, Moscow, Madrid and favourites, Paris, London won the final round of voting over Paris 54 votes to 50 to upset the French. In doing so, it became the first city to host three Summer Olympic Games. Against this backdrop, London 2012 is set to prove that anything is possible.
London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe and his team are poised to create an Olympic Legacy that extends beyond the weeks of Games (27 July - 12 August) and the Paralympics a few weeks later. The goal is to encourage young people to participate in sport and promote the Olympic spirit throughout the United Kingdom.
Approximately 10,500 Olympic athletes will compete across 26 Olympic sports in 2012. It will be the first Games with the new sports schedule where baseball and softball were voted off the program by the IOC in 2005.
The privately funded London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is responsible for staging and hosting the Games, while the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) - a public sector body - manages construction and infrastructure for London 2012. The combined budget for staging and hosting the 2012 Games is AUD $16 billion (9.3 billion pounds).
Tickets
If you plan to attend the Olympic Games, CoSport is the official ticket source for London 2012.
CoSport, Official Partner of the Australian Olympic Team, has been appointed as the only Authorised Ticket Reseller to sell individual event tickets, ticket packages, and consumer hospitality packages to the constituents of Australia. As such, CoSport is the only entity authorised to sell Olympic Games event tickets in Australia. Please be aware that other, unauthorised entities or bogus websites may purport to have Olympic tickets for sale; however, you can only be certain that Olympic tickets are authentic if they are purchased through CoSport. For more specific information, please click here >>>
Venues
During the London 2012 Olympic Games, the 26 sports will take place at venues in the Olympic Park, across London, and at out of London venues.
The construction of Olympic Park will regenerate a formerly industrial area of East London into a sustainable green space. Known as the ‘big five’ venues, the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, International Broadcast Centre, VeloPark and Olympic Village will remain standing after 2012. The transformation of this area is a key feature of the Olympic Legacy.
These venues will be complemented by prestigious sporting locations Wembley Stadium (Football), the All-England Club in Wimbledon (Tennis), Lord’s Cricket Ground (Archery) and Hyde Park (Triathlon).
Sailing will be held in the south west of England at Weymouth and Portland in the Dorset and East Devon region. The other events out of London are the football preliminaries across England, Scotland and Wales.
To see a gallery of London venues, click here>>>
The Torch & Attractions
Arriving in London on May 18 2012 the London flame will spend 70 days travelling throughout Britain. The goal is for 95 percent of Britons to be within an hour of the torch. Approximately 8,000 people will carry the flame, one of the richest traditions of Olympic history.
While the torch design and route are yet to be revealed, a dramatic new attraction has already been commissioned for Olympic Park. Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor has been selected to create a distinctive sculpture 22m higher than the Statue of Liberty. “The ArcelorMittal Orbit” will be created from a continuous looping lattice of steel, embodying the excitement and energy of London during the Games. The sculpture will boast unrivalled views of Olympic Park and the London skyline, providing an enduring tourist attraction for London.
The Ceremonies
On 27 July 2012 London will open an historic third Summer Games under the guidance of Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle as Artistic Director. The world-class Executive Production team for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies includes Stephen Daldry, Mark Fisher, Hamish Hamilton, and Catherine Ugwu. Between them are Oscars, Grammy nominations, and credits for the Ceremonies of the Beijing, Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Staff will begin work at the 3 Mills Studios production centre this year in collaboration with the plans already underway for the mascots, torch relay and medal ceremonies.
Cultural Olympiad
The largest cultural celebration in Modern Olympic History is already underway. The four-year London Cultural Olympiad aims to promote creativity in arts and culture, particularly among young people.
Programs such as International Inspiration- enriching the lives of young people across the world, Open Weekend- an annual weekend in Britain dedicated to trying something new, and the Get Set Network- a school educational programme, are helping spread the Olympic spirit.
