Mayor Meets Kids Enjoying Free Games
Mayor of London Boris Johnson caught up with some of the 95,000 London school children who are experiencing the excitement of the Games for free thanks to LOCOG’s ‘Get Set’ Ticketshare scheme run in partnership, in the capital, with the Mayor.
Two years ago Boris Johnson, pledged that one in eight school children across the capital would be able to see the action first hand when the Games come to London. Setting aside 125,000 tickets for them and their accompanying adults this has been reportedly achieved at no cost to the schools, to parents or to the taxpayer.
The Mayor Boris Johnson said: ‘It is only right that the capital’s young people are at the heart of the action throughout this incredible summer of sport. If we can inspire them to strive for gold in their own lives and to get excited about sport then we will have achieved one of the most enduring legacies of these games and ensure that London will benefit for years to come.’
Tasnim Yusuf, a teacher at Langdon school said: ‘The pupils are really thrilled to be going to see the Olympic Games in their home city, it is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. I hope that by encouraging young Londoners to go to the Olympic Games through the provision of free tickets, it will encourage them to stay healthy and active.’
Over the last two years 2,419 schools, attended by over 90% of the capital’s 10-18 year olds, joined the London 2012 ‘Get Set’ Education Network, making them eligible for tickets.
In March, 95,761 schoolchildren found out exactly what sports, which sessions and what venues they have been allocated tickets for. This included over 18,000 tickets for sports at the Olympic Park and 60,000 Paralympic athletics tickets.
