Summer Olympics

Locals enjoy first picnic in the Olympic Park

By Emily Goddard

Olympic_Park_picnic_in_the_park_with_stadium_in_backgroundJune 21 - More than a hundred local residents and schoolchildren enjoyed the first "picnic in the park" in the newly completed wetland bowl, riverside spectator lawns and wet woodlands in the London 2012 Olympic Park, led by the experts behind the design and construction of the site.

"You're invited" British celebrities tell world as tourism agency begins London 2012 marketing campaign

By Duncan Mackay at The May Fair Hotel in London

Judi_Dench_on_sofa_LandscapeJune 20 - A new £100 million ($162 million) marketing campaign featuring award winning actress Dame Judi Dench, Sixties model Twiggy and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to try to capitalise on the international opportunity presented by next year's Olympics and Paralympics has been launched by VisitBritain, the country's national tourist agency.

Hunt shows his paces at launch of new School Games

By Mike Rowbottom in Hatfield

school_games1_17-06-11June 17 - Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, strutted his stuff on stage at the launch of the School Games here today - and maintained that the new event, which the Government is introducing in place of the old UK School Games, will "bring the magic of the Olympics" to pupils throughout the country.

British swimmers to receive more tickets for London 2012

By Duncan Mackay

Fran_Halsall_with_name_on_hatJune 16 - Britain's swimmers, like Fran Halsall, are set to receive more tickets so their families can watch them compete at London 2012 after the British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Swimming announced they are dedicating a substantial part of their allocation of tickets to competitors.