LATEST NEWS
| Read six books this summer and win one of 5 family trips to Disneyland Paris
| Top Paralympians could be heading to Kent
| Kent companies being urged to help subsidise international teams training in our county
| Dover Kids Sing with Passion for Olympic Games
| Skills for 2012 - Employer Conference - 20 May 2008
| Dates for Your Diaries
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Our first confirmed competitor for Beijing – Will Bayley
| Kent secures more Pre Games Training Camps nominations than any other county
| Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games’ Small Grants Fund
| Kent Swimmer returns from National Junior Swimming Championships
| Kent Campaign - Progress Report 2007 Activities 2012
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Will your business take advantage of the Games
| Kent's ambitions for Dover to welcome the Olympic Torch to the UK in 2012
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Kent Event Team - Flexible volunteering for one off events
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Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games small grants fund
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Get Involved in the Road to Beijing
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Celebrating Five Years until the London Paralympic Games
Read six books this summer and win one of 5 family trips to Disneyland Paris
Are you between four and 12 years old? Are you sporty or a bookworm, or maybe even both?!
Then get ready to race to your local library between 26th July and 31st August to join the Summer Reading Challenge, with this year’s theme being sport. And why sport? Well that’s because the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are taking place in Beijing this summer.
But you don't have to be sporty to get excited about this year's Summer Reading Challenge - Team Read. It's all about reading for fun and having a go at winning bronze, silver and gold medals.
To take part in the challenge you need to:
- go to any library and collect your membership card and fun-packed fold-out poster
- read six books of your choice and along the way collect special Olympic stickers
- go for gold! Read and review all six books and win a limited edition medal.
In Kent we also have some extra special prizes to help you read your six books this summer:
- for reading two books you will get as well as your bronze stickers a limited edition Find Your Sport bookmark, telling you what books some of our sporting heroes read when they were your age
- for reading four books you will get as well as your silver stickers either a fab yo yo or an equally fab Frisbee, donated by P & O Ferries
- and if you manage to read all six books this summer, then as well as your stickers we will enter your name into a prize draw to win one of two day passes for a family of 5 to Disneyland Resort Paris (your mum/dad/guardian will also get a free return ferry crossing and accommodation vouchers for up to £250) or one of three day passes for a family of 5 to Disneyland Resort Paris (your mum/dad/guardian will also get a free return ferry crossing)
And if all that isn’t enough to get you choosing your first books, then some libraries will be running Team Read events where you can talk about the books, meet authors, sporting heroes and have sporting fun.
And if this challenge gives you the sporting bug then ask your local library for local sports club details or use the Find Your Sport posters that will be in the library to see what sport you and your friends might start doing.
Good luck!
Top Paralympians could be heading to Kent
Elite Paralympians wanting to train ahead of the 2012 Paralympic Games could be coming to Kent following news that eight of the county’s sports venues have been selected for the official brochure promoting facilities available to disabled athletes from across the world.
In March, Kent was recognised for having the most pre games training camps for Olympians in the country and the latest announcement is a significant achievement improving the county’s chances of welcoming top level sportspeople to the area.
The British Paralympic Association made its decision after a list of possible venues was submitted by Kent County Council as part of the Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games to generate long-term benefits to the county. Venues were assessed against many strict criteria including access, nearby accommodation and transport links to London.
The eight selected from Kent and Medway to help Paralympians train and which will be promoted to international teams at the Beijing Games are:
- Dartford Judo Centre (Judo)
- Sevenoaks School (Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Tennis)
- University of Kent, Canterbury (Archery, Boccia, 5-a-side, 7-a-side football, Goalball, Powerlifting, Table-tennis, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby)
- Polo Farm Sports Club, Canterbury (Wheelchair Tennis)
- Canterbury High School (Athletics, Boccia, 5-a-side Football, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Fencing)
- Stour Leisure Centre, Ashford (Boccia, 5-a-side Football, Goalball, Table Tennis, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby)
- Valley Leisure Centre, Folkestone (Boccia, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby)
- Medway Park (Athletics, Boccia, Goalball, judo, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby)
KCC Cabinet Member for Community Services Mike Hill said:
“This is excellent news and something very exciting for Kent that elite Paralympians and Olympians could be coming to our local facilities to train before competing at the London 2012 Games. International visiting athletes will help promote Kent to the world and bring economic benefit to the area. It really heightens our anticipation for the Olympics and Paralympics coming to the UK.”
Map showing Pre-Games Training Camp venues in Kent
Kent companies being urged to help subsidise international teams training in our county
Companies in Kent are being urged to 'adopt-a-nation' in an effort to help the County attract more teams to train here in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
It is hoped the scheme will create a database of employers interested in supporting overseas teams wanting to train in Kent.
Thirty-six sites in Kent and Medway have been identified as potential training camps by London 2012 - more than any other county. Representatives from Estonia, Romania, Canada and the United States have already visited Kent and Saudi Arabia’s volleyball players and Slovenian gymnasts have expressed interest.
But, because many teams will find it hard to fully fund their pre-Games training, Kent County Council is trying to enlist business support by setting up an international business and sports partnership.
Chris Hespe, KCC’s Head of Sport, Leisure and Olympics, and Chairman of the Kent Coordinating Group for the 2012 Games, explains a great way for firms to share the excitement of the Olympics and Paralympics in the build-up to the 2012 Games is to be associated with international teams.
“We want to achieve sporting, educational and cultural links between nations that would also lead to economic links. I see this as a huge opportunity for Kent companies. It is firmly believed that firms will be able to forge commercial links on the back of sporting deals. We would like to create a list of companies willing to be approached by us every time a nation is due to come over. There’s no reason why firms could not adopt nations or squads and follow them all the way through to 2012. There would also be photo opportunities for the firms and their staff. They would be contributing to these nations’ visits and by doing so enhancing the international profile and standing of those firms.”
Kent is looking for offers of financial sponsorship or help in kind, for example by providing a mini-bus to take the team around, paying for a team’s hotel accommodation, or funding visits to local attractions to show off what the County has to offer.
Firms interested in this opportunity should contact chris.hespe@kent.gov.uk
Dover Kids Sing with Passion for Olympic Games
The idea of the 2012 Olympic torch relay entering the UK through Dover was the focus for 120 young people from primary and secondary schools from the area when they took part in a day packed with activities.
The event, organised by Kent County Council working with Future Creative and local headteachers, was part of the Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games and included choosing a campaign name around the bid for the Olympic Torch, writing the campaign song, designing its website and learning about the last time the Torch was welcomed to the UK through Dover, when Britain hosted the 1948 Games.
The children, working in groups also decided what they would like to achieve in the next four years and their ideas ranged from ‘going places by myself’ and ‘making new friends’ to ‘being rich’, ‘starting a new school’ and even ‘being in the Olympics’.
The Pass the Passion campaign name was suggested by St Martin’s School and chosen by the children along with a winning design by Edward Bodiam from Temple Ewell School which will be produced into badges and sent to local schools.
Here is a sample of the badges created by young people on the day (click on the thumbnails to see larger images):
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| Winning Badge design (Edward Bodium) | Badge Design (Gemma Whitfield) | Badge Design (Mitchell Depster) |
Here is a sample of young people's pledges for 2012 (click on the thumbnails to see larger images):
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| I'm going to greet the Olympic Torch when it arrives at Dover | I promise to try to be an F1 driver | I promise to try to help make people better |
Here is a sample of the 2012 postcards to be sent to Lord Coe (click on the thumbnails to see larger images):
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| Dear Lord Coe, Please allow the Olympic torch to come through Dover because it would make 2012 a special time for the community of Dover. Dover is also the gatewayto England. Yours sincerely Amy. | I would like the Olympic torch to come through Dover because we have a lot of history here and I would like teh Olympic torch to be a part of history! | I think it should come to Dover again because the last time it came was 60 years and that is a long time ago. |
The Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games led and managed by KCC is working in partnership with a range of organisations regarding the torch, including Dover District Council, Dover Town Council and Dover Pride with support from MPs Hugh Robertson, Derek Wyatt and Gwyn Prosser for the torch to again enter Britain at Dover.
KCC Lead Member for Community Services Elizabeth Tweed said:
“It was a very exciting atmosphere and the children have plenty of ideas about the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will be a major event for their lifetime and I hope their enthusiasm ‘passes the passion’ onto the whole of Kent to get us all excited for 2012.”
Future Creative’s Creative Designer for the event Imogen Noble added:
“The goal was to develop young people to think imaginatively about the Olympic Torch Relay, and to begin developing their own campaign to get it into the UK through Dover in 2012. Through taking part in different activities, the young people produced some really superb creative work that Kent will now send on to London 2012 organisers.”
The decision of which town will welcome the torch is expected to be decided by the London Organising Committee in 2009
To see the Lyrics to ' Pass The Passion - A Torch song for Dover!' follow this link (pdf)
Folow this link for the audio of the song on Invictafm website.
Skills for 2012 - Employer Conference - 20 May 2008
In 2012, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to London. But what does this mean for businesses in Kent?
The London Games and the preceding Cultural Olympiad are a once in a lifetime opportunity, but how ready are you to take advantage and do you have the right skills for the job?
The Learning and Skills Council can support you to develop the skills of your staff to ensure you maximise the benefit of the 2012 Games, and that's why they are investing over £32 million each year from now until then to expand the range of Train to Gain, Apprenticeships and other training for employers in Kent and Medway.
The 2012 Games is not just for one summer. By investing in the right skills now, the Learning and Skills Council hope to help more local businesses benefit and local people get the jobs they want for the future. That's the vision, but they need your help to deliver the right training at the right time in the right place.
'Skills for 2012' is your chance to have your say and help the LSC prepare you for success.
To sign up to the Skills for 2012 free event, please follow this link
Dates for your diaries – 24 August 2008 and 17 September 2008
24 August 2008 is a Bank Holiday Sunday. At around 2.45pm that afternoon, the eight minute handover ceremony from the Beijing Olympiad to the London Olympiad will take place as part of the much longer Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony. Local communities across the UK are being encouraged to celebrate the handover, whether through community festivals, street parties, or whatever they choose! London 2012 will be contacting all local authorities to encourage them to do something to celebrate the event, whilst it is hoped that several major tourism attractions in Kent may also host celebratory events.
17 September 2008 is a school term Wednesday, and again at around 2.45pm an eight minute handover ceremony will take place as part of the Beijing Paralympics Closing Ceremony. In the UK the focus of the celebrations is expected to be around young people and schools, which is why the Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games will be launching its 20 in 12 programme that day.
To discuss what your area or organisation might do on either or both of these days, please contact Stephanie.holt@kent.gov.uk in the first instance.
Image © Strange Cargo, by Brigitte Orasinksi
Our first confirmed competitor for Beijing – Will Bayley
Kent Table Tennis player Will Bayley, will be part of the Team Great Britain table tennis squad at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
The 20-year-old from Tunbridge Wells is ranked 19th in the world for Table Tennis and currently trains at the Bristol Table Tennis Academy at Filton College. He is also a keen actor and used to attend the Brit School in Croydon.
Will says:
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It’s been two years of hard work and concentrating on qualification so it’s great that I have been selected. In Beijing I want to win a medal in the singles. It’s quite an open class – there are about six or seven athletes who could win.”
For information about Kent athletes tipped for 2012 please follow this link
Kent secures more Pre Games Training Camps nominations than any other county
Kent has more sports facilities able to host international athletes ahead of the London 2012 Games than any other county, following the announcement in early March that 31 venues across Kent and 5 from Medway have been selected as potential Olympic Pre Games Training Camps. This figure is greater than a number of regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has chosen the facilities to be included in a guide that will be distributed to National Olympic Committees during the Beijing Games later this year. Athletes in a range of sports can then choose to stay and train in Kent before competing.
Kent County Council's Sport, Leisure and Olympics Service carried out detailed assessments of Kent's facilities, put them forward to LOCOG and worked with the venues and with LOCOG consultants over the past year to ensure they met the strict criteria to host athletes of international standard and have the correct facilities. Kent County Council will continue to promote those which were not included, to prospective visiting countries via its website and publications.
The full list of Kent venues that will be featured in the Guide can be found by following this link
Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games’ Small Grants Fund
This was launched in December 2007, to support cultural, creative and sports providers deliver activities and events that will demonstrate at least one of the Olympic and Paralympic values, and will support the Kent Campaign efforts to promote sporting and cultural activity in the County.
Any activity or event being put forward for consideration should involve or include young people, defined as aged under 18, or up to 25 if involved in full time education, for the purposes of this fund.
So far, grants totalling £5,090 have been awarded to Dover Rowing Club, North West Kent Racial Equality Council, Skillnet, St. Mary’s CofE Primary School, Quex Museum House and Gardens, Jugnu Bhangra, and to Stour Valley Arts. As these projects are delivered, full details will be featured on our this website.
The fund remains open for applications - please follow this link for more details.
Kent Swimmer returns from National Junior Swimming Championships
Kent's Alexandra Adams has just returned from the Disability Sports Events (DSE) National Junior Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge Sports Centre, in Sheffield. Alexandra entered 12 races, won 12 golds and achieved 9 new personal best times. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, Alexandra won 'Outstanding Achievement - Best Female' award, which includes a £200 grant!
Alexandra remains one of our hopefuls for the London 2012 Paralympic Games and her continued progress and development shows her promise for the future.
Kent Campaign - Progress Report 2007 Activities
Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games has published a progress report which shows, five years out from the Games, that 2012 is acting as a catalist to encourage new projects and initiatives across many sectors.
The document is a summary of what has actually happened already in each of the nine sectors of Sport, The Arts, Tourism, Economic Development and Regeneration, Skills and Training, Schools and Young People, Volunteering, Communications and Media and Transport.
The progress to date in the Sport sector includes the Launch of a Kent School Games; a biennial competitive event across 21 sports, potentially involving all Kent schools, researching and submitting to London 2012 all of Kent's potential venues for Pre-Games Training Camps, securing £250,000 sponsorship from P&O Ferries to help develop sport up to 2012, allocating grants to potential Olympians and Paralympians using funds secured from a number of other commercial sponsors and hosting a number of international events including the Archery World Cup and the World Series Handcycling Championships.
Progress in the Economic Development and Regeneration sector included the generation of the highest number of business registrations on the London 2012 business website for any area in the South East. Voluntary sector partners have developed a project which will recruit and place individuals to volunteer for one-off events. The School and Young People sector have created a project called '20 in 12' which will encourage any number and a diverse range of cultural and educational activities. The Tourism sector ran an extremely successful 'Big Day Out' with almost 7,000 members of the public taking part.
Follow this link to view the full document of achievements (pdf)
Grow your business by taking advantage of the 2012 Games - Your Questions Answered!
Business Consultants Group – Good Practice Event
Thursday 28 February 2008, 9.00a.m. to 2.00p.m at the
Hilton Hotel, Bearsted Road, Maidstone, ME14 5AA
"It’s fantastic to see that of some 500 contracts (worth over £1 billion) already awarded, 98 per cent have gone to British companies, with over half won by mostly small- and medium- sized companies based outside of London". Morag Stuart - Head of Procurement at Olympic Development Authority (ODA).
Come along and find out about how your business can benefit we have proactive sessions delivered by:
Stephanie Holt, Kent County Council's Manager for the 2012 Games works with local regional and national partners on the 2012 agenda. She can tell you how your business can help deliver the 2012 Games.
Paul Toben is the regional Business Link Programme Manager for the London 2012 Games and can highlight the great opportunities businesses will have from 2012 over the next five years. He will give practical advice on winning contracts for the supply of goods and services.
David Armstrong of Belmont International are one of the UK's leading independent insurance and risk management advisers and the largest in South East. They are seeking to ensure that businesses in the area can benefit from the variety of opportunities that the 2012 Olympics will bring without leaving themselves exposed to new or growing risks.
Jennifer Bowden will be facilitating the morning on behalf of the Business Consultants Group and says “It is a must attend event for any one who wants to grow their business opportunities”
Plus: Expert panel session to answer any questions you may have from the sessions.
There will be an opportunity to display your business literature at the event free of charge.
As always there will be time to continue to build your network and develop relationships with interesting people and to test out your ideas over the scheduled breaks and lunch. So be prepared and make sure that you bring a supply of business cards with you.
Cost of the event is £25.00 plus VAT
Which includes refreshments and a light lunch
To book your place or find out more email heather.batt@individuallearning.co.uk or call Heather on 01622 754252.
Kent's ambitions for Dover to welcome the Olympic Torch to the UK in 2012
Kent County Council and the Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games have been seeking to ensure that Dover is the welcome point for the Olympic Torch when it first reaches the UK's shores in 2012.
Reasons why:
- Dover was the welcome point for the Olympic Torch when London last hosted the Games in 1948. It would be fantastic to recreate this part of British Olympic history in 2012.
- Dover is the natural gateway between mainland Europe and the UK. A visitor's first and last impressions of the UK are formed here.
- The white cliffs are recognised by international audiences as Britain's second most famous landmark worldwide. The Torch's arrival at Dover would therefore reinforce international interest and media profile in the 2012 Games.
Dover has experience of hosting international sports events, and summer 2007 saw the World Archery Grand Prix, with Lord Sebastian Coe as Patron. - Dover is undergoing significant regeneration. The chance to welcome the Torch provides an important opportunity to support Dover's renaissance and reflects the importance of the 2012 Games as a catalyst for regeneration.
To continue to create our bid, we are now planning;
- 'Dover and the Olympic Torch - a Young People's Conference' is an event being planned by Dover schools in partnership with the Campaign and with Creative Partnerships, to take place on April 24th.
- An event around Easter time to bring together the very best creative minds in the County and the Region, to explore what the arrival might look like.
- A promotional DVD for our bid.
- An ambitious and visionary event on August 24th to coincide with the Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London.
Partners already supporting our bid include Kent Campaign Patron Dame Kelly Holmes, Derek Wyatt MP (Chairman of the All Party London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Group, Member of Parliament for Sittingbourne and Sheppey), Hugh Robertson MP (Shadow Minister for Sport, Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid-Kent), Gywn Prosser MP (Member of Parliament for Dover), Dover Pride, Dover District Council, Dover Town Council, Kent County Council, Tourism South East, Screen South, and Culture South East.
Kent Event Team - Flexible volunteering for one off events - Project Manager
£23-25,000 (35 hours) + 6% pension
We are seeking a results driven dynamic self starter to manage this high profile volunteering project.
You will be able to shape and develop this new project which is a partnership between Kent County Council and the voluntary sector in Kent, aimed at building a network of volunteers to support a range of sport, leisure and cultural events across the county including the build up to the 2012 games.
You will be an entrepreneurial project manager, ideally with experience in the development of volunteering, with excellent marketing, communication and interpersonal skills. You will need to be prepared to travel as this role involves networking across the county.
If you would like to discuss this role, please contact Charlotte Osborn-Howard on 01622 677337.
Application packs can be downloaded from www.sevenoaksvolunteers.org.uk or email kentcove@sevenoaksvolunteers.org.uk or telephone 01622 677337
Closing date 8th February 2008, interviews 19th February 2008
Get Involved in the Road to Beijing
The British Paralympic Association, responsible for the country’s Paralympians’ identification, training and support, has launched a scheme to enable everyone to be part of the British Paralympic effort for the 2008 Beijing Games.
From Thursday 6 September 2007 you are able to ‘own a mile’ of the journey from London to Beijing. This will be represented through an interactive map that highlights important Paralympic sites and will give information on Paralympic history in a fun and engaging way.
To be part of this scheme you can either ‘Own your mile’ by making an online donation at www.justgiving.com/roadtobeijing or you can ‘Earn your mile’ by taking inspiration from Britain’s Paralympians and being sponsored to run, swim, row, skate, abseil or even space hop your mile!
By re-visiting the justgiving.com website you can keep track of progress as the British Paralympic squad makes its way to Beijing with updates and news.
Britain’s Paralympians are among the most successful in the world, and came second in the overall medals table at both Sydney and Athens. This success needs the best coaches, support and equipment available so competitors can do their best at Beijing in 2008 and again in London in 2012.
Kent and Medway are confident that up to eight paralympians from this county are on the road to Beijing 2008, with a further six looking very promising for our own home grown Games in 2012. Then there’s our likely Kent contender for the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver and we can see there is a winning future for our local Paralympians!
The British Paralympic Association, responsible for the country’s Paralympians’ identification, training and support, has launched a scheme to enable everyone to be part of the British Paralympic effort for the 2008 Beijing Games.
From Thursday 6 September 2007 you are able to ‘own a mile’ of the journey from London to Beijing. This will be represented through an interactive map that highlights important Paralympic sites and will give information on Paralympic history in a fun and engaging way.
To be part of this scheme you can either ‘Own your mile’ by making an online donation at www.justgiving.com/roadtobeijing or you can ‘Earn your mile’ by taking inspiration from Britain’s Paralympians and being sponsored to run, swim, row, skate, abseil or even space hop your mile!
By re-visiting the justgiving.com website you can keep track of progress as the British Paralympic squad makes its way to Beijing with updates and news.
Britain’s Paralympians are among the most successful in the world, and came second in the overall medals table at both Sydney and Athens. This success needs the best coaches, support and equipment available so competitors can do their best at Beijing in 2008 and again in London in 2012.
Kent and Medway are confident that up to eight paralympians from this county are on the road to Beijing 2008, with a further six looking very promising for our own home grown Games in 2012. Then there’s our likely Kent contender for the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver and we can see there is a winning future for our local Paralympians!
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Celebrating Five Years until the London Paralympic Games
The London 2012 Paralympic Games have been scheduled to start on a Wednesday to enable two full weekends of action. The day after the Opening Ceremony, Thursday 30 August, has been scheduled as 'Paralympic Day', where spectators will be encouraged to try out Paralympic Sports and watch athletes compete and train. There will also be cultural performing arts events taking place and the day will be a celebration of Paralympism.
A GamesMobility Service will be developed at the London 2012 Games, which will mean that spectators with a disability will be offered a Games-wide free service which enables them to book a ticket for a guaranteed accessible location. Arrangements can be made to provide a personal guide to the event.