Dungannon pupils back London Olympic bid

The pupils of Dungannon Royal School have put their weight behind London’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Every pupil at the school signed an Olympic flag – thus joining 500,000 other signatures – which will be handed over to Lord Coe, Chairman of London 2012.

Welcoming their support, Sports Minister, Angela Smith, said Northern Ireland would be key to delivering a range of facilities to athletes and their teams during the pre-Games acclimatisation period if the London bid is successful.

“As the Prime Minister has said, it is not what the Games can do for London, it is what the Games can do for the whole country,” Ms Smith said. “If London wins the bid, then regions such as Northern Ireland will be key to delivering a range of facilities to athletes and their teams during the pre-Games acclimatisation period.

“Our local economy will be the main winner, through the demand for accommodation, transport, shopping and entertainment. This will not only be in the weeks and months ahead of the Games, as teams and their supporters get settled in, it will be through the many social and economic opportunities which could span years before and after.”

The Minister also said that the Games would provide an unrivalled opportunity to showcase the best of Northern Ireland’s culture with artists and entertainers getting involved in events linked to the Games.

“And anyone who has ever dreamt of being part of the Olympics movement, but lacking the sporting ability to take part in the Games, may achieve their personal goal by becoming one of the 70,000 volunteers who will be needed on the ground to help manage the event,” she concluded.

(MB/GB)