London 2012 also announced the roll out of the UK ’s largest-ever network of public giant screens that they claim will provide a permanent legacy across the country of the Capital staging the Olympics.

 

Funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor (OLD) and London 2012 partners Lloyds TSB and BT, these include permanent structures in Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Swansea, and Waltham Forest whose inhabitants can witness all the action from the Beijing Games and the moment that London becomes the Summer Olympic Games Host City as well as major occasions leading up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

 

Planning permission is also pending for further screens in Bristol and Norwich .

 

In a unique collaboration, the London 2012 Organising Committee will be working with the BBC to provide content for the screens.

 

In addition, they will be boosted around the country by over 20 other screens, capturing action from Beijing and London’s Handover celebration bringing the total in operation on the day London becomes Host City to over 30.

 

These sites will be operated by each of the communities involved, but on August 24 it is expected that they will become the hub of activity for communities centred around the Handover moment – be it sport, music or dance and will include a mass sing-a-long as part of the "Sing The Nation" programme.

 

Regional choirs will lead 15 minutes of collective singing in each of the locations with a choir at several big screen sites throughout the country, performing three songs: a simple choice to get everyone warmed up; a song of regional significance and a national song which is being arranged by National Youth Choirs. 

 

On August 24, the network of screens, known as ‘Live Sites’, will show the Visa London 2012 Party live from the Mall, where 40,000 people will gather to watch the show.

 

Tickets for the Mall party have already been allocated via a ballot, which was over subscribed by ten times.

 

It will also be broadcast live to the rest of the nation on BBC One and BBC Radio 2 and will feature performances from multi-million-selling artists including The Feeling, Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson and McFly marking the moment when London becomes the official Host City of the Summer Olympic Games.   

 

Featuring unique collaborations and specially-arranged performances, some with a sporting theme, the show from the Mall will sync with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Closing Ceremony at which London Mayor Boris Johnson will be symbolically handed the Olympic flag, officially marking the start of London’s tenure as Summer Host city in front of a worldwide audience estimated to be around 1.5 billion.

 

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: “At approximately 2.30pm UK time, on the afternoon of August 24 the Olympic Flag will pass from the Mayor of Beijing to the Mayor of London in the Olympic Stadium in Beijing and the eyes of the world will turn to us.

 

"Just as the nation celebrated London winning the bid, we invite the nation to celebrate the start of our four-year journey to 2012 – in whatever way they wish.

 

"This could be one of the Live Sites, a fantastic example of a project created because of London 2012, but one with a life well beyond the Games."

 

Janet Paraskeva, the chair of the OLD, said: "The Olympic and Paralympic Games are one of the greatest of all international events and these new Lives Sites in the heart of some of our major cities will create a focal point for communities to come together and enjoy the events.

 

"We are pleased that National Lottery funding will help extend the network of Lives Sites in time for the handover from London to Beijing .

 

"As well as providing a way for the whole of the UK to join in with London 2012, Lottery money is also creating a community resource in cities with state-of-the-art technology around which people can gather to celebrate a wide range of events."

 

Colin Grannell, the executive vice-president, partnership marketing at Visa Europe, said: “As a global supporter of the Olympic Games for more than two decades we at Visa are proud to sponsor an historic and memorable event for people to celebrate the return of the Games to London after sixty years.”

 

Suzi Williams, the BT Group marketing director, said: "BT is a company with communication at its heart.

 

"Through our support of the Live Sites we're delighted that communities across the UK will be able to experience this momentous event as we all start looking forward to 2012."

 

Sally Hancock, the London 2012 partnership director for Lloyds TSB, said “As the first national partner of London 2012 we are proud to be bringing the Live Site experience to the communities we serve, showcasing the excitement and action that we all expect from the Games.”