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The National Lottery's 2012 Games hot air balloon heads to Birmingham

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The National Lottery 11 August 2010

The National Lottery visited Birmingham today with its London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games hot air balloon, on its first stop following its launch in the Olympic Park.

The hot air balloon is touring the UK to thank Lottery players for their contribution to London 2012 and to highlight the role that people from across the UK will play in helping to host the world’s greatest sporting event. The balloon visited Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, taking competition winners on a tethered flight with local elite athletes.

Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist, Kelly Sotherton, European triple jump silver medallist Nathan Douglas, World 1500m silver medallist, Hannah England and Olympic high jump finalist Tom Parsons were joined by Birmingham Athletics great and former 5,000m world record holder, David Moorcroft OBE, at the exclusive event.

The West Midlands will actively be involved in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with Coventry hosting football matches at the Ricoh Arena, the USA Track and Field team’s training camp being held at the Alexander Stadium, the Jamaican Track and Field team holding their training camp at Birmingham University, as well as pre-Games training camps for the Lithuania Basketball team being hosted at Worcester University.

Over £25 million a week is raised by Lottery players for projects across the UK that make a real difference to people’s lives. The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2 billion to fund the infrastructure and the venues for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and their legacy, as well as enabling around 1,400 talented British athletes to benefit from world-class coaching and support through UK Sport's World Class Performance Programme.

David Moorcroft OBE, former Chief Executive of UK Athletics and Chair of the West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 Games, said: “Lottery players are making a vital contribution to both our elite athletes and the development of the London 2012 venues and their legacy and this hot air balloon is just one way of celebrating their support. We’re delighted to bring it to Birmingham, which along with the rest of  the West Midlands, will be playing its part in hosting the world’s largest sporting event and creating opportunities for athletes and members of the public to have their Olympic or Paralympic moment.”

Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist, Kelly Sotherton said, “National Lottery funding has been crucial to my development as an athlete. It helps me benefit from a range of support services and allows me to train full time. It’s exciting to think that the Games are now under two years away and it’s great that Birmingham and the West Midlands has a big part to play.”
 

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