Excitement surrounding the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games escalated after the Get Set Roadshow was launched in the city centre.

The London 2012 Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency launched the event on 9 January at London’s Trafalgar Square, to celebrate the start of London’s Olympiad in August 2008.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of LOCOG, Manny Lewis, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency and The Rt Hon Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympics and London, officially launched the Roadshow. Several high profile athletes also attended the event, including Paralympic Swimming gold medalist Giles Long.

The Roadshow, currently touring around the city, will have visited 33 London boroughs by the time it finishes in April. Events organized in shopping centres, parks and town squares aim to give people in London the chance to find out how the Games will increase jobs and skills opportunities and benefit culture, sport, business and urban regeneration in the capital.

During the event Lord Coe said: “Five new permanent venues are being constructed for London 2012, which will be used for both community and competitive sporting events. These venues will give our sports stars of the future better facilities to train and compete at the highest level. The Games are also an opportunity for all Londoners to get involved, both on and off the sporting field.”

Mr. Livingstone said: "The Games are already delivering its lasting legacy. We have seen a number of programmes start up providing support to businesses, improving skills, securing jobs and delivering infrastructure improvements, and it has been encouraging to see the eagerness of Londoners to realize their potential and get involved. Today's launch of the Five Legacy Commitment Document sets out our aims and achievements to developing this legacy further, and the London Roadshow is key in ensuring we up our game to give everyone, from all backgrounds, the opportunity to benefit from the once in a lifetime opportunity the 2012 Games offer."

Commenting on the importance of the event, IPC President Sir Philip Craven said: “This event is a good example of how London is already laying the ground so it achieves the best possible legacy outcomes from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Roadshow is not only a fantastic way of spreading the excitement of the Games to the wider community, it will also be hugely effective in teaching people how they can benefit from the windfall of opportunities created by the Games.”

For more information, please visit the official website www.london2012.com.