Pupils from Turnford School and Sports College in Chesnut, The John Warner School in Hoddesdon, St Marys C of E High School in Waltham Cross and King Harold Business and Enterprise Academy in Epping Forest have been given the chance to attend this world class event after Lee Valley Regional Park Authority teamed up with the London 2012 Organising Committee to offer an exclusive chance to watch the closed test event happening right on their doorstep.

Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) said: “The Canoe Slalom test event is vital for testing different aspects of the competition ahead of next year’s Games, including the course, timing technology, scoring and workforce. This is the first time the course has been used for an international competition, so it really will be put through its Olympic paces. Any learning from the event will be built upon to ensure we run the best event possible next summer. Even though the test event is not open to the wider public, we are pleased to be able to offer local schools a chance to see international teams tackling the course.”

Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority supported Seb Coe’s comments, adding: “We believe Lee Valley White Water Centre is the best in the world and since we launched in April 2011 we have already welcomed in excess of 40,000 visitors.* As well as the test event being important to trial crucial operational aspects, it will also give young people from the local area a fantastic opportunity to see over 200 world class athletes from 30 nations compete on the course a year ahead of the Games – an exciting snapshot of what is to come next year.”

Jonathan Nagle a teacher at Turnford School and Sports College, which is part of the London 2012 Get Set network** said: “We are delighted some of our pupils have been given the chance to go along and watch the Olympic Canoe Slalom test event. Many of the children are sport mad, and I am sure will be inspired by what they see. We may even have some future Olympic champions on our hands!”

The Canoe Slalom test event runs from 28-31 July 2011 and is not open to the public.

Ends

For further information, contact pressoffice@london2012.com or call the LOCOG Press Office on 0203 2012 100.

Notes to editors:

*Lee Valley White Water Centre is the only brand new Olympic venue to open to the public ahead of the Games.

** The Get Set network is a special community of schools and colleges which are:
•    demonstrating a commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic Values: respect, friendship, equality, excellence, inspiration, courage and determination
•    Using the London 2012 Games to inspire learners of all ages and abilities to get involved in Values-based projects and activities.

Any school or college in the UK can become a member of the Get Set network and receive rewards and recognition from London 2012.

Media wishing to attend the test event should email pressoffice@london2012.com to register their interest. There will be limited media access to this event.

As it heads towards its £2bn budget for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-four domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, Next, The Nielsen Company, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Ticketmaster and Trebor.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Supplier, Otto Bock.

The Worldwide Olympic Partners signed up for London 2012 are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, Dow Chemical Company, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.