Olympic Park Visit

Heathcote School was one of only 60 schools and colleges from across the UK to win the exclusive opportunity to visit the London 2012 Olympic Park.

The school won the opportunity in a prize draw as a reward for joining the London 2012 Get Set network.  This network of schools from across the UK have demonstrated a commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values by using the Games to add value to the life of the school.

Students from Heathcote got the opportunity to see first-hand the work that is progressing on London’s Olympic Park, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in 2012. As part of the park tour they saw the major venues being constructed by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) including the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Velodrome and Handball Arena.  Students learnt about the environmental and community programmes running at the Olympic Park.

Students stopped at the Greenway, a walkway overlooking the site, to have a group photo taken. They were all very excited about having this opportunity to get to see Olympic Park and said that they could not wait to come here again in 2012 to see the games. They were also excited about using the facilities when the games were over.

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), said: “I’m delighted Heathcote won the opportunity to visit the London 2012 Olympic Park after they were successful in the prize draw available to Get Set network schools and colleges. I hope they were inspired to return to Chingford and continue their work on the great Olympic and Paralympic projects as part of the Get Set education programme.”

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chairman John Armitt said: “We were delighted to welcome pupils from Heathcote onto the Olympic Park site to see the huge progress being made to transform this part of east London. This tour was a great chance to show them at first hand the lasting legacy of new sporting venues, parklands and open space we are delivering for young people and future generations.”

Get Set is the official London 2012 education programme, and is the main way for schools, colleges and other learning institutions across the UK, to play their part in the London 2012 Games. Currently more than 12,000 schools from across the UK are signed up to the Get Set website, which contains lots of free resources for 3-19 year olds to find out more about the Games and explore the Olympic and Paralympic Values.