One year Olympic countdown

One year Olympic countdown

Context:

With just one year to go before the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Surrey’s preparations are in full swing. Since it was announced the Games were coming to London, the county council has been leading the charge to make sure local residents and businesses benefit as much as possible.

Quote:

Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: “When London won the right to host the Games we saw it as a huge opportunity for Surrey. I admit some imagination was needed, particularly as no events were due to take place in the county at the time.

“However, we persevered along with other organisations in Surrey and the benefits are now there for all to see. We have two Olympic events being held in the county, businesses have won hundreds of millions of pounds worth of contracts and more people are taking part in sport which is helping them lead healthier lifestyles.”

Further details:

The county’s success will be highlighted on Sunday, August 14, when the London-Surrey Cycle Classic takes place. The elite race will act as a dress rehearsal for the men’s and women’s Olympic road cycle races which will be staged on the opening weekend of the 2012 Games in Surrey and London.

Surrey’s other Olympic achievements so far include:

· The men’s and women’s Olympic cycling time trial events taking place in Surrey
· More than £740 million worth of Games related contracts being won by local businesses
· A host of Olympic teams training in Surrey, including Australia (cycling), China (tennis), Nigeria, Croatia (Paralympic), Antigua and Barbuda and the Cayman Islands
· More than 3,500 children taking part in county sports finals during the P&G Surrey School Games
· A total of 1,900 people, mostly children, breaking the record for the largest human Olympic rings
· The torch relay passing through Surrey on 20 July 2012 and spending an evening in Guildford.

Ends

For more information contact Senior Media Relations officer James Oxley on 0208 541 7259.

Notes to editors

The 140km London-Surrey Cycle Classic will start and finish in the Mall, London, and include an 80km loop of Surrey. For maps of the route and information on the race, including road closures, visit http://www.gosurrey.info/cycling.

For more information on how to get involved in the 2012 Games visit http://www.gosurrey.info.