London 2012 in a town near you

The roadshow will kick off in Trafalgar Square on July 6, a year after London won the right to stage the Games.

A special roadshow bus will criss-cross the UK traveling almost 3,000 miles and visiting towns and cities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

London 2012 chairman Seb Coe, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone will join past and present Olympians to attend key events nationwide aimed at businesses and local communities.

The roadshow will end on 27 July, the date of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe said:

"The Games will last only six weeks, but the physical legacy will last for fifty years. And the "soft" legacy the social and economic changes that are enshrined in our plans will last a lifetime.

"The Games are a powerful catalyst for change and will help create a sustainable sporting, community and environmental legacy for future generations.

"We hope this roadshow will help people to appreciate just how inspirational the Games can be and the relevance they can have for them and their communities".

As part of the Roadshow, Tessa Jowell will also host an economic benefits conference in Leeds on 19 July.

This will build on the successful Business Summit held at Canary Wharf in London in January, and will explore the wider economic benefits to be created throughout the UK as a consequence of the 2012 Games.

Full details of the route and the more than 40 stops will be made public later this month.

9 May 2006

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