16 August 2010
The National Lottery's 2012 Games hot air balloon comes to
Manchester
The National Lottery visited Manchester today with its London
2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games hot air balloon on its tour
around the UK.
The hot air balloon is touring the UK to thank Lottery players
for their contribution to London 2012 and to highlight the role
that people from across the UK will play in helping to host the
world’s greatest sporting event.
The balloon visited Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester with
Olympic cycling champion, Sir Chris Hoy, Olympic cycling silver
medallist, Ross Edgar, Paralympic cycling champion, Jody Cundy,
World gymnastics champion, Beth Tweddle, European gymnastics
medallist, Dan Purvis and Paralympic athletics bronze medallist,
Ian Jones.
The North West will be actively involved in the 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games, with Old Trafford hosting Olympic football,
Swimming Australia holding their training camp at Manchester
Aquatics Centre, and teams from Thailand and the 15 Pacific Island
countries of Oceania all committing to train in the region ahead of
the Games.
In addition to sporting benefits, 204 North West businesses have
won London 2012-related contracts, 1,454 schools are registered on
Get Set, the London 2012 education programme, and the region is
home to 92 Inspire mark projects, the highest outside London.
Chair of the North West Steering Group for the 2012 Games, Andy
Worthington, said: “Lottery players are making a vital contribution
to both our elite athletes and the development of the London 2012
venues and their legacy and this hot air balloon is just one way of
celebrating their support. We’re delighted The National Lottery has
brought the balloon to Manchester, which along with the rest
of the North West, will be playing its part in hosting the
world’s largest sporting event and creating opportunities for
athletes and members of the public to have their Olympic or
Paralympic moment.”
Over £25 million a week is raised by Lottery players for
projects across the UK that make a real difference to people’s
lives. The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2 billion to
fund the infrastructure and the venues for the London 2012 Olympic
and Paralympic Games and their legacy, as well as enabling around
1,400 talented British athletes to benefit from world-class
coaching and support.
Olympic cycling champion, Sir Chris Hoy said, “National Lottery
funding has been crucial to my development as an athlete. It means
I can benefit from world-class coaching and support services, which
helps me to win medals. It’s exciting to think that the Games are
now under two years away and it’s great that Manchester and the
North West has a big part to play.”
-Ends-
For media information and images please contact Fast
Track:
Abigail Thomas: 07841 012675 / abigail.thomas@fasttrackagency.com
Kate Silvers: 07789 544048 / kate.silvers@fasttrackagency.com
Or Jessica Cain at the National Lottery Promotions Unit: 0207 211
3898 / jessica.cain@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk