London 2012 roadshow brings talent contest final to Stratford

A major outreach initiative to connect with Londoners about the benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, the Get Set London roadshow has engaged residents from all over the capital in finding out what opportunities the Games are bringing to London and how to benefit from them.

London 2012, The Mayor of London and the London Development Agency (LDA) created the roadshow to give Londoners a unique opportunity to find out how the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will increase jobs and skills opportunities and benefit culture, sport, business and regeneration in the capital and in their local borough.

On average more than 1,000 visitors came to each Roadshow stop, trying their hand at the variety of sporting, cultural and business related activities on offer and meeting special guests including Olympic Triple Jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards, sporting ambassadors Giles Long (Paralympic Swimming bronze medallist) and Jo Sarjant (British Basketball Squad). Olympic hopefuls Ben Challenger and Dzaier Neil were also on hand to help adults and children test their strength and fitness on a range of sports kit or take part in free workshops ranging from street dancing with East London Dance, Frititi’s African drumming workshop, to the skills of The Circus Space.

More than 4,000 pictures were taken of visitors enjoying themselves on the 'green screen' – a photo opportunity to superimpose yourself onto an Olympic backdrop and 15,000 leaflets were collected by Londoners keen to find out more about opportunities in the run up to the Games.

As part of the roadshow, musical acts from all over London have been competing for the much-coveted opportunity to perform at the Handover Celebrations in London on the 24th August, 2008. Live auditions took place in Tower Hamlets, Haringey, Hammersmith & Fulham and Lambeth, with ITV London filming the audition process for their flagship daily news show, London Tonight.

The four finalists - Freerun, Hoover Manoeuvres, Nathalie Nahai and We Were Heroes - all performed to large crowds in Newham on Sunday 6 April.

Londoners can vote for their favourite act by going to the ITV London website. Over 10,000 people have voted for their favourite act to date and voting is open until noon on 18 April, 2008.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee spoke of the success of the Get Set London Roadshow and what it has meant for the capital: 'The London 2012 Get Set London roadshow has offered us the opportunity to get out and meet Londoners across the capital. The reaction from visitors has been extremely positive and we hope that the Roadshow has helped to inspire people to be part of London 2012. Our close work with the local councils in putting on the events has also enabled us to ensure that visitors to the Roadshow are fully aware of the activities and facilities on offer on their own doorstep, as well as the plans for each borough in the run up to the Games.'

Manny Lewis, the Chief Executive of London Development Agency expanded on the business and skills opportunities at the Games: 'The roadshow has been a fantastic tool to highlight how the LDA is delivering a legacy now through the Games. We have successfully managed to convey to as many people the possibilities available with the training programmes and job opportunities. Our goal is to get 70,000 people across London into work by 2012.

'The borough visits also enabled us to reach out to local business communities. We have been able to offer advice on how to prepare their services for the Games and how to compete for contracts in everything from construction and tourism to hospitality and technology.'


– Ends –

Notes to Editor:

- The London Development Agency works to improve quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth.

The Get Set London roadshow visited the following locations between 9 January – 6 April 2008:


Trafalgar Square

Centre Court, Wimbledon

Sutton High Street

The Glades, Bromley

Vicarage Field, Barking

Brent Cross Shopping Centre

Rich Mix, Bethnal Green

Southside, Wandsworth

Kew Retail Park

Harrow Leisure Centre

The Mall Ilford

The Score Centre, Leyton

Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre

Finsbury Park

Woolwich Market

Downham Centre, Bromley

Whitgift Shopping Centre, Croydon

The Mall Bexleyheath

Leadenhall Market, City of London

Civic Centre, Uxbridge

Liberty Shopping Centre, Romford

Ocean, Hackney

Tavistock Piazza, Kensington and Chelsea

Edmonton Leisure Centre

Sobell Leisure Centre, Islington

Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre

Lyric Square, Hammersmith

Tate Library Gardens, Brixton

Memorial Square, Kingston

Paddington Recreation Ground

Stratford Shopping Centre


The following cultural groups participated in the Get Set London Roadshow:


- Notting Hill Carnival Company

- Ebony Steel Pan Band

- China Arts

- The Circus Space

- East London Dance

- Frititi

- The Dhol Players

- Numan Elyer

- Gibber, on behalf of the Learning & Skills Council

Plus a number of local sports and dance groups from all over London – information available on request.

The following athletes visited the Get Set London roadshow:

- Jonathan Edwards CBE (2000 Olympic Triple Jump gold medallist and world record-holder)

- Giles Long MBE (2004 Paralympic Swimming bronze medallist)

- Dervis Konuralp (2004 Paralympic Swimming bronze medallist)

- Ben Challenger (2008 Olympic High Jump)

- Dazier Neil (2008 Paralympic Table Tennis)

- Maggie Alphonsi (2006 Women's Rugby World Cup silver medallist)

- Jo Sarjant (GB Basketball Squad and 2006 Commonwealth bronze medallist)

- Mike Mullen (former BMX World Masterclass Halfpipe Champion)

- Cathy Gilliat Smith (GB Hockey Team and 2006 Commonwealth bronze medallist)

- Judy Oakes, OBE (2000 Olympic athlete and Shot British record breaker)

- Susan Halter (1948 Olympic Swimming gold medallist)

- Angus Pederson (Young athlete – Badminton)

- Jonathan Crammon (Young athlete – Baseball)

- Romane Walcott (Young athlete – Athletics)

- Ben Humphries (Young athlete – Archery)