London 2012 Olympics - 1 year to go

27 July 2011 marked one year to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games and we have been busy highlighting how tourism can contribute to the economic legacy of the Games and to inspire people to visit Britain and join in the celebrations over the year ahead.

In Russia we held a large-scale event at Moscow’s largest outdoor festival Picnic Afisha, headlined by the Kaiser Chiefs in conjunction with the British Council and the British Embassy in Moscow. We ran an Olympic Britain Pavilion totally dedicated to sport, inviting visitors to participate in various sports tournaments such as ping-pong, arm-wrestling and table football. Visitors were also able to view a special Paralympic photo exhibition provided by the Russian Paralympic Association and over 300 people took part in a Paralympic quiz.

We joined forces with the United States Olympic Committee to launch ‘Team USA: Britain Bound’ at a one year to go party at the New York City’s Lincoln Center.

In India we held a joint event with the British High Commission and Briitsh Council where the Omega countdown clock was unveiled at the British High Commissioner' residence.

In the UAE we hosted a reception at the British Embassy in Dubai. The Consul General and Keith Beecham spoke and an Arabic version of our TV ad was shown.

Over in China, we helped facilitate interviews and media visits for China Central TV, the 2012 Games broadcaster, who showed a two-hour feature programme about the one year count down which was repeated 2-3 times on CCTV News Channel and CCTV-5 today.

In Canada, we hosted an event with the FCO in Toronto. Guests included the Ontario Minister of Health Promotion and Sport, CTV’s Olympic broadcast team, members of the COC, Canadian para-athletes, tour operators, trade and news media. The new Britain – You’re Invited TV ads, the Olympic images video, and b-roll were shown on large screens around the house and gardens.

Meanwhile just across the channel in France, we held an event in partnership with the French national organising committee (NOC), EventTeam – the official tour operator for the French NOC and the British Embassy. This event included a presentation which covered an introduction to the French involved in the 2012 Games, a film on French success stories in previous Games, another of French athletes inviting French people to go to London to support Team France. Other discussions included how France Television will be covering the Games, Club France Project – the French Sport Embassy in London during Games-time which will be used as a media centre for French media and where official broadcaster, France Televisions, will be based.