Amber Charles

Amber Charles, a talented young basketball player from East Ham in the London Borough of Newham, played a key role in London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games seven years ago and has remained involved in the project since.

Amber presented London's 600-page proposal to members of the IOC at Lausanne in 2004. The following year she also accompanied the bid team to Singapore for the final presentation to the International Olympic Committee which resulted in London being awarded the Games.

The vision that Amber and the young ambassadors from East London shared for the Games was clear - to inspire young people to choose sport - and in the years since the bid this has become a reality. Amber remains an ambassador for the Games and went on to play for the England under-16 basketball team and the Haringey Angels in the national championships.