Last Sunday we spent the day in Trafalgar Square at the Vaisakhi celebrations handing out information on the 2012 Games. Vaisakhi is the celebration of the Sikh New Year Festival; this year has the added importance that the event commemorates 300 years of the consecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru.

The day included performances of traditional music such as Shabad Kirtin (religious hymns), as well as modern Asian music and dance. Awards were presented to young achievers from the Sikh community for their achievements in the arts, sport and education or for the contribution they have made to their community.

We spent the day on the Square talking to many people from the Sikh community giving them information about how they can get involved in the Games - whether volunteering, business opportunities or getting a job at LOCOG.

It was great to hear that many people had already registered through the London 2012 website to receive information about the volunteering programme when it is rolled out in 2010 and those who hadn’t were keen to find out how to sign up. We were well prepared for the queries we received about jobs at the London 2012 Organising Committee as we had a list with us of current vacancies available for people to take away, we were also able to signpost them to the job pages of this.

People we spoke to were really keen to get one of our new 'join in' travel card wallets, which includes a leaflets with information on how people can get involved in the Games. It also contains three sport cards featuring facts on both Olympic and Paralympic sports. These were very popular with everyone we spoke to. We were proud to say that cover is made from 100 per cent recycled polypropylene and the paper used for the leaflet is 100 per cent recycled from post-consumer waste.

One of the highlights of the day - apart from the tasty vegetarian food prepared by the Sikh community - was speaking to a group of young people who had come to London for the event from Leicester. They were very excited about the Games in 2012 and were determined to be part of it. Their enthusiasm was infectious and had a really positive effect on others who were visiting our exhibition stand. They took away stickers and posters on the Games to share with their school and friends in Leicester.

Attending community led events such as Vaisakhi really bring home to me how communities around London, and indeed the UK, are really gearing up for 2012, their enthusiasm and willingness to part of the Games will ensure that the Games in 2012 are watched and enjoyed by everyone.