The Olympic Games are fast approaching and for the past few weeks the Olympic torch has been making its way around the UK. Today it will be arriving in the northern town of Bolton, before heading to Liverpool and then catching a ferry to Ireland. The torch won’t reach London until day 66 of 70, when it arrives in Wandsworth.
The SilverDoor office is in west London, so we’re delighted that the torch will be passing through the nearby district of Ealing. Lots of us will be heading there after work to enjoy the atmosphere and see this once in–a-lifetime event.
When the torch reaches the Olympic Stadium on 27th July it will have visited more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages across the UK. It isn’t the only thing that will be getting everyone in the Olympic spirit: in the build-up to the games, countless events will take place all over the country.
When the UK won the bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games it promised that a great cultural programme would run alongside it. Accordingly, the London 2012 Festival has something for everyone, from dance and film to museums and Shakespeare, and showcases the best of what the UK has to offer.
The events being held in the lead up to the Olympics aren’t limited to London. They include:
- The BT River of Music. Six stages along the Thames will play host to artists from each of the 205 countries participating in the Games. (21st-22nd July)
- BBC Comedy Presents… Edinburgh will host three weeks of live comedy at the world’s biggest comedy festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe. (3rd August-27th August)
- Fire Garden at Stonehenge. French outdoor wizards Compagnie Carabosse will transform Stonehenge into a fiery fairytale landscape. (10th-12th July)
- Manchester meets Africa. Manchester’s main galleries will join forces for the first time for a major exhibition of contemporary art from west Africa. (2nd June-16th September)
- Big Street Dance Day. The population of the UK is invited to fill the streets with a celebratory day of dance. Head to Trafalgar Square to see a performance that will feature 2000 dancers on multiple stages, shown on giant screens. (14thJuly)
The London 2012 Festival closes on 9th September but that won’t be the end of the story. On 21st September artists from the London 2012 Festival will hand over the Olympic culture programme to artists working towards Rio 2016.
If you’re staying in the UK on business and want to stay an extra night to catch some of these special events, our Sales Team are able to give you advice on the best Olympics accommodation options available.
