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UK's favourite Olympic Champions unveiled

25 June 2008

Olympic Champions with scratch cards
Sir Steven Redgrave, Duncan Goodhew, Sally Gunnell, Seb Coe, Dame Kelly Holmes and Jonathan Edwards with the new Olympic Champions Scratchcards

The National Lottery has unveiled the UK's favourite Olympic Champions on a new Scratchcard raising funds for London 2012.

The champions, who have won 12 gold medals between them, are Sebastian Coe (1500m: Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984); Jonathan Edwards (Triple Jump: Sydney 2000); Duncan Goodhew (100m Breaststroke: Moscow 1980); Sally Gunnell (400m Hurdles: Barcelona 1992); Dame Kelly Holmes (800m and 1500m: Athens 2004); and Sir Steven Redgrave (Coxed Four: Los Angeles 1984; Coxless Pairs: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996; Coxless Four: Sydney 2000).

The six legends are the favourite British Summer Olympic Games gold medallists of all time as voted for in a specially-commissioned poll.

The new Olympic Champions Scratchcard gives odds of winning a prize of just 1 in 4.67 and costs £2. 

It was unveiled at an event yesterday hosted by sports presenter Hazel Irvine, who also introduced the greatest performances by British competitors and the most memorable moments of all time from Summer Olympic Games.

London 2012 Organising Committee Chair Sebastian Coe said: 'It is an honour to be included in the list of people’s favourite Olympic Champions and particularly exciting in an Olympic Year.

'These Scratchcards bring back some fantastic memories of past achievements. Of course we are now looking forward to the Olympic Champions of the future and this summer I hope the whole country will be supporting Team GB and Paralympic GB.

'There is added interest since the sales of these Scratchcards go towards funding the construction of sporting facilities for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Indeed, at the closing of the Beijing Games the eyes of the world will turn to London. That brings our plans at London 2012 into sharper focus but we will be ready.'

£2.2bn of National Lottery funds are helping to create the facilities to host the Games, providing a long-lasting legacy for the people of east London and the wider UK.