Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Olympic tour visits East Midlands and Cornwall
Culture Secretary highlights the benefits of London 2012 to the regions of the UK.
Businesses and tourism bodies in the East Midlands and Cornwall have last week been urged to make the most of next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt visited the regions as he continued his nationwide ‘2012 tour’ which is showcasing the business, tourism, cultural and sporting opportunities the Games will bring to the whole of the UK. He kicked off the tour in Cumbria last week.
He told both areas they will feature in major international and national marketing campaigns to promote UK tourism in 2012 and urged local tourism firms to sign up to a new 20.12 per cent discount scheme.
Speaking in Nottingham on Wednesday, Mr Hunt said: “As the whole country cheers on Rebecca Adlington next year, I want them to know her home county with its amazing countryside is a stunning place to visit for a holiday. With the Torch Relay going right through Sherwood Forest and the Peak District, we have a chance to tell the world about the treasures in this part of the country – and will do so with our biggest-ever tourism marketing campaign.”
Mr Hunt and Tourism Minister John Penrose were welcomed to the Eden Project today by Suzanne Bond, Chief Executive of the Cornwall Development Company. She said: “The 2012 Games provide the opportunity for Cornwall to attract new visitors to the county from traditional and emerging markets. These visitors will have a first class experience of Cornwall’s outstanding tourism offer as well as witnessing first hand the pioneering and transformational changes across the county.”
School Games
During Wednesday's visit to Nottingham, Mr Hunt and Sports and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson joined Olympic cycling medallist Bryan Steel to visit the local Ellis Guilford School and Sports College where they urged schools to sign up for the School Games. The nationwide competition is using the inspiration of London 2012 to get more youngsters involved in sport and the finals of next year’s School Games will be held in the Olympic Park.
Mr Steel said: “Through the School Games more young people will have the opportunity to go on to be the best they can be at sport. As a Sporting Champion I work with young people who grow in self-esteem and confidence because they set themselves competitive challenges and strive to meet them. Coming from a disengaged background and facing learning difficulties at the age of 14 the course of my life was changed by sport.”
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