BRITISH COUNCIL’S GLOBAL PROGRAMME IN CELEBRATION OF THE GAMES

The British Council’s programme for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games aims to involve people around the world in the educational and cultural aspects of the Games.

When London won the rights to the 2012 Games in 2005, Lord Coe announced: ‘London’s vision is to reach young people all around the world; to connect them with the inspirational power of the Games’. Since then, the British Council has been playing its part in helping to achieve this vision. Through our involvement in the International Inspiration programme for example, we are helping ensure that London 2012 touches the lives of millions of people across the world.

Find out more about the various projects and keep up to date through the British Council's London 2012 website.

BRITISH COUNCIL PROGRAMME FOR LONDON 2012 IN RUSSIA

			British Council, together with its partners- Visit Britain, Russian Olympic Committee and VISA  - is taking part in the "Road to London" project: Russian sportsmen will visit  London on the 21-24th of April 2012 to estimate how it is prepared for the Olympics. For more information follow our social networks!
			BT River of Music will welcome the world to London with a spectacular weekend of free music from across the 205 Olympic and Paralympic nations, presented at iconic sites along the River Thames on 21 and 22 July 2012.  BT River of Music is part of the London 2012 Festival. It is produced by Serious, and supported by National Lottery Funds through the Olympic Lottery Distributor and Arts Council England. British electronic musician and DJ, Matthew Herbert will be creating a unique performance to represent Russia through a UK – Russian big band project.
			The World Olympic Dreams is a joint BBC and British Council project following the lives and progress of 26 athletes from around the world as they train for 2012. Russian athlete Ivan Ukhov has been followed by the BBC team in his bid to qualify to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games. The project enables schools in the UK to twin with schools attended by World Olympic Dreams Athletes. In the build up to the Games the schools will work together on joint projects inspired by Olympic values. For example, Ekaterinburg's Olympic school in Russia is twinned with Redruth School in Cornwall. The BBC looked at upcoming Russian athletes from the school through this film. It shows the dedication of athletes in this country and the importance of getting children interested in sport from an early age. Pupils from Redruth School visited the Olympic school in September this year to kick off the first of many visits happening now until April 2012 between the winning twinned schools. They were able to watch the athletes train, witness their lifestyles and to understand their motivations and aspirations.
			The World Shakespeare Festival is a celebration of Shakespeare as world playwright, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in an unprecedented collaboration with leading UK and international arts organisations. The British Council is supporting some of these international partnerships and a related education programme. From Russia, director and artist Dmitry Krymov, one of the most original talents of his generation, will present his remarkable and visually striking interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Expect his take on Shakespeare's most magical of comedies to be unlike any Dream you have seen before.
			In July 2011 the British Council participated in the renowned Afisha "Picnic" for the third time. Our Olympic Britain Pavilion which was devoted to the London 2012 Olympics attracted and united a lot of visitors.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND TEACHERS WORLDWIDE

English for the Games
For free teaching resources we have created 'English for the Games' on our Teaching English website. There are lesson plans and activities at different language proficiency levels on themes such as the Olympic and Paralympic sports and values. Each week we will add a new resource.

For free learner resources have a look at the ‘English for the Games’ materials on our Learning English website. Learners can practise their English as they learn about the London 2012 Games, watch videos, read articles, and do interactive exercises. Each week we will add a new resource.

Warm up for the Games

For schools in UK and around the world who are interested in doing projects around the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we have created a 'Warm up for the Games' section on our Schools Online website. There are project ideas and activities for you to use in your classroom or with your partner school.  If you don’t have a partner school, find out how to Twin for 2012!