This Friday the world finds out the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games - and I'll be waiting in anticipation along with everyone else.
 

I'll never forget the surprise and celebration in Trafalgar Square on that July day in 2005 when we heard London had won. Dame Kelly Holmes and the Red Arrows were the stars of the occasion and the tickertape continued long in to the evening. It was a fantastic day for the UK, and the start of something really exciting. I joined BT shortly after and quickly found myself at the heart of BT's own London 2012 adventure.
 

BT backed the bid for London to host the Games in 2012, and is now the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The decision to move from supporter of the bid to fully-fledged Games sponsor was a significant one and by no means a foregone conclusion in those early days. But like any other commercial decision, it was based on doing the right thing for customers, shareholders and employees. In the end, the business case turned out to be a strong one, and we are proud to be playing such a huge role in the greatest show on earth.
 

In our role as official communications services partner, BT is delivering the most connected Games ever. In 2012, every image, every sports report, every visit to the London 2012 website and millions of calls, e-mails and texts will be delivered over BT networks. Already BT people are working to deliver 80,000 connections across 94 locations, installing 4,500km of internal cabling and 1000 wireless access points, and our networks will be carrying 6GB of information - the equivalent of 6000 novels every second. It's an enormous project and one that BT is uniquely qualified to deliver.

Of course we're also using the Games to engage and inspire our people and our customers, for example through our successful athlete Ambassador programme. These athletes are a vital part of our 2012 programme and they're doing a fantastic job for us - whether speaking at internal or customer events, or supporting our wider PR and marketing programmes.
 

Earlier this year we added Oscar "Blade Runner" Pistorius to the BT Ambassador team and he helped launch our title sponsorship of the BT Paralympic World Cup. This is the largest international multi-sport competition in elite disability sport - and it's a fantastic opportunity for the world's best Paralympic athletes to take part in elite competition as they look towards the Paralympic Games in 2012. BT will support this event every year through to 2012.
 

We're also sponsoring the BT Visit London Awards, which celebrate the people, places and things that make London such an amazing city. Why? Well it's because we understand the importance of tourism to the economy in London, and this will only grow in the build-up to the Games in 2012. But it's not just about London - BT is committed to engaging people across the UK in this once in a lifetime event. It's BT's aim to make these the first truly connected Games, with BT connecting the nation - and indeed the world - to the action. To support our ambition, as part of our London 2012 programme we're a partner of the Live Sites - a network of giant screens in towns and cities up and down the country, connecting communities with London 2012 without leaving their home town.
 

Being involved in BT's London 2012 partnership still feels like the start of an adventure - with just under three years still to go to the London 2012 Games - and so much still to do. Yet such is the Olympic cycle that in just four days time another country will be celebrating success at becoming the host of the Games in 2016. It's an exciting time as we all await the outcome. And I wish the winning city and nation every success as they start their Olympic and Paralympic adventure.

Suzi Williams is BT Group marketing and brand director. BT is the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and title sponsor of the BT Paralympic World Cup. For more information click here