Cardiff welcomes hundreds of athletes ahead of Paralympic Games

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 13, 2012

Cardiff is extending a warm welcome to almost 400 Paralympic athletes as they base themselves in the city ahead of the start of the Games.

Sports men and women from several countries including Australia, Liberia, Korea, China and the Oceanic Islands have all made their journey to Cardiff as the city becomes their selected pre-games training camp as they make the final, important preparations before the competitions commence on August 29.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “Cardiff is honoured to have been selected by several Paralympic teams as a pre-Games training camp and we extend a warm welcome to the hundreds of athletes who will be residing in the city as they make their final preparations ahead of the Games.

“Sport.Cardiff is committed to making disability sport accessible to everyone and provides an excellent provision for grass roots sports. An example of this is the annual Wheelchair Sports Spectacular which attracts over 500 attendees and promotes disability sports amongst adults and children.

"Having so many outstanding athletes here is sure to inspire Paralympians of the future.”

2012 Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission, Jason Hellwig said from the Australian Paralympic Committee said: “The staging camp is a first for us in the lead up to a Paralympic Games and has been a unique feature in our planning for the London Games campaign.

“The run up to the start of the Games is an extremely important time for every athlete taking part and we are confident we can make the best of these final preparations here in Cardiff.”

(more…)

Council leader Joyce makes Olympic rings pledge

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 13, 2012

Cardiff Council Leader Cllr Heather Joyce has pledged to find a permanent home for the city’s Olympic Rings if the Welsh capital is allowed to keep the structure which currently stands on the lawns in front of City Hall.

As the eyes of the world were on London last night for the amazing closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, Cllr Joyce said Cardiff is ready to grasp the mettle of the legacy of the Games for Wales, starting with ensuring there will be a home for the city’s Olympic Rings if the British Olympic Association allows them to remain.

Cllr Joyce said, “We have been so proud to be a part of the London 2012 Olympics and it was fantastic to be the city where the most successful games for Team GB in Olympic history kicked off with the first football match in the Millennium Stadium on July 25th.

“It has been amazing and humbling to see what has been achieved from these athletes from across the world and of course from some of our home-grown talents such as Geraint Thomas, Jade Jones, Hannah Mills and Fred Evans.

“I think everyone in Britain feels inspired by what has been achieved which is why I think it is so important we have a symbol of that legacy here in Cardiff to encourage the sporting superstars of tomorrow.

“It would be fantastic if we were able to keep the Olympic Rings in Cardiff and provided it is allowed people can rest assured that I will make sure they have a prominent place in our capital city.

“I have been so impressed by what has been achieved in Great Britain over the last two weeks and I have already written to both Lord Coe and Boris Johnson to give my congratulations and I am delighted to say that we have already had a letter from the Government thanking us for our role in making London 2012 such a success.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

Olympic Football tickets on sale

Posted by Now Cardiff on Apr 30, 2012

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Football matches at the Millennium Stadium will go back on sale from 11.00am today.

Fans can book their place at Cardiff’s city-centre venue, which will host 11 football games between 25 July and 10 August, at www.tickets.london2012.com or via telephone on 0844 847 2012 until Sunday 6 May.

Following an exciting tournament draw last week, Cardiff will host Team GB Women’s team for the first event of the Olympic Games against New Zealand while in the Men’s tournament; highlights include Great Britain versus Uruguay on August 1.

Football fans will also have the opportunity to watch Brazil, seeded as the "all-time top Olympic performer", play Egypt in Cardiff on July 26.

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.

The Olympic Football Tournament will take place at six iconic venues including the Millennium Stadium across the UK. So far approximately one million tickets have been sold for Football, with approximately 1.5 million still to sell.

Millennium Stadium General Manager Gerry Toms said: “The London 2012 football tournament in Cardiff is an exciting occasion for sports fans and I hope that people all over Wales will take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and get their tickets to support the GB Team and be part of the Olympic Games in Wales.”

LOCOG Commercial Director Chris Townsend said: ‘Now that the draw has taken place, we are delighted to put remaining tickets on sale to see some of the world’s most exciting young footballers in the Olympic Games. This is a great opportunity for people across the UK to be part of the Games, and see great matches at great prices’

Full details of contingency ticket sales and Paralympic ticket sales will be announced later this week. These tickets will go on sale in May.

Olympic Countdown: Help set a hockey record on the hayes

Posted by Now Cardiff on Apr 20, 2012

Hockey takes centre stage at The Hayes on Monday when an eight foot giant hockey ball rolls into the city centre as part of the city’s countdown celebrations to the Olympics games.
The npower Big Dribble event organised by Great British Hockey is calling on Cardiff schools, sports teams and anyone who comes along to The Hayes to take part in the  nationwide record attempt to ‘dribble’ a hockey ball 2012km across the UK.
The event will start at 5pm on Monday,April 23 and along with the giant hockey ball there will be plenty of fun hockey activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The npower Big Dribble will visit 40 locations across the UK with the finale at Trafalgar Square on May 2.
Cardiff will play host to the very first London 2012 event, with women’s football taking place at the Millennium Stadium on July 25.
A Cardiff Council spokesperson: “It’s a great privilege that Cardiff will host Olympic Games events. To celebrate a number of events will be taking place towards the run up to the Olympic Games.”