People can also have their fitness and coordination levels tested to discover which sport they are best suited to.

 

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, Manny Lewis, chief executive of the London Development Agency and the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, officially launched the Roadshow.

 

Also lending their support were former Olympic, European and world triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards; 13-year-old Plymouth diving prodigy, Thomas Daley, tipped for success after winning the gold at the Australian Elite Junior Nationals in 2005 and Shanaze Reade, the 19-year old world-class cycling champion, also hoping for medal success at London 2012, and Giles Long, Paralympic swimming gold medallist.

 

Coe said: “Five new permanent venues are being constructed for London 2012, which will be used for both community and competitive sporting events. 

 

"These venues will give our sports stars of the future better facilities to train and compete at the highest level. 

 

"The Games are also an opportunity for all Londoners to get involved, both on and off the sporting field.”

 

Livingston also launched his 'Five Legacy Commitment' Document, an annual publication with updates on the delivery of programmes, progress, and how people can get involved in the many opportunities offered across the city.

 

Livingstone said: "The Games are already delivering its lasting legacy.

 

"We have seen a number of programmes start up providing support to businesses, improving skills, securing jobs and delivering infrastructure improvements, and it has been encouraging to see the eagerness of Londoners to realise their potential and get involved.

 

"Today's launch of the Five Legacy Commitment Document sets out our aims and achievements to developing this legacy further, and the London Roadshow is key in ensuring we up our game to give everyone, from all backgrounds, the opportunity to benefit from the once in a lifetime opportunity the 2012 Games offer."

 

Jowell said: “The Get Set London 2008 Roadshow will be a big success over the months ahead in encouraging people to get involved in so many different ways in the 2012 Games, culminating in April with the Beijing torch relay coming to London.

 

"London 2012 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for every individual. 

 

"Today’s event, and the many others scheduled to take place across  London , are excellent examples of how to make sure we all maximise the benefits the Games offer.”

 

Organisers claim the Roadshow offers Londoners a unique opportunity to find out how the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will increase jobs and skills opportunities and benefit culture, sport, business and regeneration in the capital - from the 9,000 new homes that will be built in the Olympic Park to the £17 billion investment on the transport system.

 

Advisors from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and JobcentrePlus are supporting the Roadshow by providing information about the job and skills opportunities available across all London boroughs in the run-up to 2012.

 

Through a range of different sized pods this unique Roadshow will then go on to visit all 33 London Boroughs, between January – April 2008. 

 

The "Get Set London Roadshow" offer every Londoner and local business the chance to find out how they can get involved right now in the 2012 Games. 

 

Lewis said: “The Roadshow is a fantastic tool to highlight how the LDA is delivering a legacy now through the Games.

 

"We want to engage as many people as possible with the training programmes and job opportunities.

 

"Our goal is to get 70,000 people across London into work by 2012.

 

“The Borough visits will also reach out to local business communities.

 

"We will be able to offer advice in preparing their services for the Games and how to compete for contracts in everything from construction and tourism to hospitality and technology.”