On the eve of their fourth birthday, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has issued a last call for children born on 20 December 2004 to be registered on the Children’s Promise scheme.
The scheme, launched during the bid to host the 2012 Games in 2004 on the 20th day of the 12th month (20/12 day), will see the registered children taking part in an event or ceremony surrounding the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Over 700 children, who will be aged seven in the summer of 2012, have been registered on the scheme to date.
To assist with the planning of LOCOG’s Culture, Ceremonies and Education Team, families with children born in the UK on 20 December 2004 who would like to take part but have yet to
register, have until 1 April 2009 to do so.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: “The children and their families are on the journey with us as we work towards the summer of 2012. In the year the children turn four years of age, London’s four-year build up to the Games began with spectacular sporting performances from our Olympians and Paralympians and the handover from Beijing.”
Each child will play a special role in welcoming the world at Games time and could take part in one of the Ceremonies such as the Opening or Closing Ceremonies, Team Welcome Ceremonies, or in the programme of other events that will light up the UK.
To mark their fourth birthday, all the registered children were sent a birthday card and special adidas Children’s Promise t-shirt from the London 2012 team. Families were invited to upload a photograph of their child playing sport in the t-shirt and special Children’s Promise
photo maps have been created.
The Children’s Promise scheme is one of the many opportunities for people across the UK to be part of the London 2012 Games.
Jonathan Edwards, Olympic Triple Jumper and LOCOG Board member, hosted ten London and South East based families at a birthday celebration overlooking the Olympic Park in London to show them the progress achieved on site to date.
Jonathan said: “The opportunity for the families to see firsthand the progress on the Olympic Park is an exciting reminder that in three and half years’ time these children will be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event.”
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Notes to editors
1. adidas is the Official Sportswear Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2. LOCOG would also like to remind parents of children already registered on the scheme who have moved house since registering with us to give us their new contact details. Find out how to do this
here.
3. Locations of registered children to date:
East of England - 93
East Midlands - 48
London - 90
Northern Ireland - 41
North East - 17
North West - 72
Scotland - 33
South East - 146
South West - 42
Wales - 19
West Midlands - 41
Yorkshire and Humber - 50
Overseas - 9
4. Images of the London birthday celebrations will be available for
download from 1pm.
5. Please call the LOCOG Press Office for footage for broadcast which will also be available later in the afternoon of 19 December - 0203 2012 100.
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our
blog.
