Mayor Invites World to London for the Best Games Ever

With a year to go until the 2012 Games the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is inviting the world to come to London next year for an amazing summer in the world's best big city.

During a spectacular ceremony, which will be broadcast live around the globe from Trafalgar Square in the heart of the capital, he will call on the world to come and be part of the greatest sporting event on the planet. The Mayor will be joined by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge who will simultaneously invite the world's athletes to come and compete at the 2012 Games.

Whether visitors are attending a 2012 Games event or just here to soak up the atmosphere of the host city, everyone will have the chance to join Londoners in enjoying this unique moment in the capital's history, in particular by watching the world's greatest athletes in action on large screens at 'Live Sites' planned for Hyde Park, Victoria Park, Trafalgar Square and Potters Fields Park. The sites will play host to a fantastic programme of free entertainment including concerts, cultural and artistic performances and exhibitions to showcase London and the UK to the world.

London is also putting on a vast array of other entertainment for visitors, from street festivals to special programmes in its unrivalled cultural institutions, as well as spectacular makeovers of its town centres and iconic landmarks. This is in addition to the multitude of attractions which are part of London's everyday appeal, from its museums and historic sites to its restaurants and premier shopping venues that millions of tourists visit London for every year.

The Mayor will deploy an army of 8,000 London Ambassadors, who will be on standby to help visitors find their way around and make the most of their time in the capital. He has also announced plans to recruit 10,000 adult volunteers to take part in the official opening and closing ceremonies to ensure that they are a resounding success.

With the 2012 Games already providing a massive £2 billion boost to the capital's economy, around 25,000 workless people securing jobs, £30 million being channelled into grassroots sport and the transformation of east London continuing apace, the Mayor will also tell the world that the legacy of 2012 is already unfolding.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "A year from today the curtain will be lifted on the London Games and I call on the world to come and enjoy what will be the greatest party that London, indeed the planet, has ever seen. Our stunning venues are almost all complete on time and under budget, and the impact of the Games on this great city of ours is being felt on many fronts. Visitors to London next year will find the atmosphere electrifying, whether they are soaking up the sporting spectacle in the Olympic Park or enjoying the many fantastic events and attractions across the capital. We are set to welcome the world for the best Games in history."

For more information, contact:www.london.gov.uk

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