The British Council in partnership with the national tourism agency of Great Britain VisitBritain, the Russian Olympic Committee and Visa international payment system – took part in the Olympic project «Road to London»!

21-24 of April 2012 Russian Olympic champions visited London to see how the city had been preparing for the Summer Olympics 2012 and experience British sports culture.

Olympic champions Alexei Nemov, Dinara Safina, Maria Kiseleva, Buvaisar Saitiev and Svetlana Masterkova had very tight programme, both sport and cultural, just like the Cultural Olympiad is a part of Olympics 2012. The group took a trip to the Olympic park and new London Aquatics Centre, experienced traditional British sports such as polo and golf in Ascot and visited Fairlands Middle School – participant of World Olympic Dreams project, that encourages young people to go in for sports.

Paul de Quincey, Director of the British Council in Russia:

«Road to London» is a project designed to remind us how sport can change the world, influence cultural relations between countries, unite and inspire people all over the world

Maria Kiseleva, Press Secretary of the Russian Olympic Committee:

«During this trip to London Russian Olympic champions will be able to not only trace the preparations for the Olympics, but to learn new and interesting ideas. Today, when Russia prepares to pick up the Olympic torch, British experience shared by our sport elite is extremely valuable».

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