John puts his Hart and Soul behind Olympics

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 2, 2012

Former Wales striker John Hartson has urged sports fans all over Wales to get involved when the world’s greatest footballers head to Cardiff for London 2012 Olympic football matches at the Millennium Stadium.

The iconic sporting venue will host 11 football matches this summer, including the first event of the Olympic Games when Team GB take on New Zealand in the women’s tournament.

The city-centre stadium will also host Team GB, Brazil, Uruguay, Egypt, Mexico and Switzerland in the men’s tournament and women’s teams from Brazil, Cameroon, Japan, and South Africa.

With tickets on public sale until Sunday, 6 May, former Wales captain Hartson is calling on the people of Wales to secure their place to watch the world’s greatest international football stars at the home of Welsh sport.

“’There are some fantastic games lined up for the Millennium Stadium and the people of Wales are in for a treat,” he said. “From Team GB men and women to Brazil men and Japan women, some of the world’s best players will be showcasing their talent in Cardiff. I’d urge everyone to try and get tickets before the window closes on 6 May.”

Fans can get their tickets at www.tickets.london2012.com or via telephone on 0844 847 2012 for the Cardiff fixtures between 25 July and 10 August.

Tickets start at £20 for adults, with special prices available for people under 16 and over 60 at many matches. ‘Pay your age’ prices are available for those under 16 and tickets for people aged 60 or over will be priced at £16. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

So far approximately one million tickets have been sold for football with approximately 1.5 million still to sell at venues across the UK and Millennium Stadium’s Gerry Toms commented that this is a once-in-a-life opportunity for fans in Wales.

“This is a unique opportunity for sports fans all over Wales to be part the Olympic Games and show their support for Team GB as they face exciting opposition for one of the world’s greatest sporting events,” said the Stadium Manager at the venue which has also hosted major sporting occasions such as the FA Cup final, Rugby World Cup, FIM British Speedway and the Ryder Cup’s celebration concert.

“The Millennium Stadium puts Wales on the map as a must-visit destination and following an exciting tournament draw last week, some of the world’s major footballing nations have already started to descend on Wales’ capital city as they make their final preparations ahead of the 2012 Games.”

Last week, Stadium bosses welcomed delegates from Uruguay, Egypt, South Africa and Japan as well as Team GB women’s manager Hope Powell. The Team GB women’s team have been drawn in Group E along with Brazil, New Zealand and Cameroon. They will play New Zealand and Cameroon at Millennium Stadium on Wednesday 25 and Saturday 28 July, respectively.

Stuart Pearce’s Team GB men were placed in Group A along with Uruguay which they will face at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday 1 August, Senegal and UAE.

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Walk this way to the new Wales Coastal Path

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 2, 2012

Enthusiastic ramblers, avid walkers, keen runners and gentle strollers will soon have a brand new route to enjoy when the Wales Coastal Path is officially opened next month.

On Saturday 5, May from 11am Cardiff will host a celebratory event in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay to mark the opening of the longest continual coastal path around the country.

The 870 mile path will provide a walking route around the whole of Wales from the outskirts of Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south.

It will encourage and enable more people to enjoy physical recreation at the coast and will help Cardiff and the rest of the country to become an active and healthy nation.

It will also allow both locals and visitors to enjoy the coastal path whilst exploring and discovering the stunning coastline of Wales.

The path has something to offer everyone, from those looking for a short stroll, a diverse running route or those wishing to undertake the whole route in one trip.

Walking has several health benefits including achieving weight loss, improving lung capacity and lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and stress.

It is also great for maintaining an active lifestyle which in turn promotes health and wellbeing.

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Local Leaders get set to celebrate the London 2012 Games in communities across the UK

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 2, 2012

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games have launched an initiative to help individuals within communities play an active role in bringing their friends, family and community members together to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the UK this summer.

The London 2012 ‘Local Leaders’  will suggest to  people  ideas and tools to bring their friends, family and communities together to help make the most of the London 2012 Games by creating celebrations for their village, town or City around the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, the 12 week UK-wide London 2012 Festival, or the Olympic and Paralympic sports action.

People can sign up to be a Local Leader at www.london2012.com/localleaders and can play an active part now in preparing their community for international attention when the Torch arrives in the UK.

‘Garden for the Games’ provides Local Leaders with hints and tips from gardening experts, including Blue Peter Gardener Chris Collins and Olympic Park Gardener Des Smith, on how to plant seeds now that will turn window boxes down your street red, white and blue, or to ‘grow gold’ by planting marigolds to flourish the route of the Olympic Torch route.

Once the Olympic Torch flame arrives in the UK on 18 May, Local Leaders are provided with ideas and tools to help bring the community together to welcome the flame and celebrate their local heroes by lining the streets and showing what makes their community special for the 70 day UK wide relay.

On 27 July the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games will be watched by over a billion people around the world, and Local Leaders will be given invite cards, recipe tips, party sheets and more to help them turn their screening of the event into an Olympic themed venue, whether it is in a village hall, pub or living room.

The 4 August is Super Saturday – the day when the most medals are awarded during the Olympic Games. Local Leaders will access recipe ideas to help host barbeques and a day of activity in their homes, gardens and community centres.

For the Paralympic Torch Relay, Local Leaders can help celebrate the national flame lightings in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales by lighting up every corner of the UK with a lantern. Local Leaders will be able to access hints and tips on how to take part in a lantern procession and decorate lanterns with good luck messages for their local Paralympic athlete.

Finally, for the last day of the Paralympic Games on 9 September Local Leaders will be provided with ideas to bring together friends, family and neighbours for a Sunday get-together to see out an unforgettable summer in style.

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St Mellons hub gets service of prize winning author for a day

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 1, 2012

Cardiff Council’s St Mellons Hub has won the services of a professional storyteller and award-winning author for a day in a National Libraries Day prize draw.

The prize, sponsored by one of the main library suppliers in the UK, Greswell, means that children at the Hub can expect a visit from storyteller, Neil Griffiths, a former primary head teacher.

He is also the inventor of the multiple award-winning “Storysack”, a collection of themed props, soft toys, activities and parental guides designed to make books fun and encourage children and adults to enjoy reading together.

Neil will be visiting the Hub on 5th May and will be running sessions for children, parents and staff on the day.

Customer service advisor, Gail Jones, who entered the Hub for the draw said: “I was over the moon when we won as having the experience of seeing and listening to a really good storyteller can help bring books to life and spark a love of reading that can bring benefit for years to come.”

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Telephone scam warning

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 1, 2012

Cardiff Council’s Trading Standards team is warning local consumers to avoid being taken in by the latest telephone scam that could be costly and upsetting.

The scam involves consumers getting a call from someone claiming to want to help them stop unwanted calls by paying a three-year subscription of £47.76 to a bogus ‘telephone preference service.’

Cardiff Council’s head of Regulatory and Supporting Services, Dave Holland, said: “This is a calculated and heartless scam to obtain financial information, and could be especially distressing for older people. The scam has nothing to do with the official Telephone Preference Service (TPS) which is free of charge for consumers and registers your number to stop unsolicited calls.”

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