A special branded Roadshow bus will visit Scotland , Wales , Northern Ireland and each of the nine regions within England , ending its journey in Stoke Mandeville on August 29, marking five years to go to the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

 

The Roadshow’s theme is "Join In", encouraging sports participation, particularly amongst young people, and coaching, and is organised by LOCOG, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Sport England and national sports councils in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland , and The National Lottery.

 

At each of its 27 stops in a ten-week tour of the UK , the Roadshow will offer taster sessions in a range of traditional and exciting new sports for visitors to try.

 

Professional sports advisors will also be on hand to encourage visitors to find out more about sporting clubs and facilities in each location.

 

The Roadshow will also contain a National Lottery "Dream Statistics" zone, to enable visitors to see how their statistics – including height, weight, and muscle power– might make them suited to different sports.

 

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe will attend the first event in Greenwich , and Ministers, local MPs and sporting ambassadors will attend regional events throughout the tour.

 

The Roadshow will carry London 2012’s new brand mark, which will be launched in London on  June4 .

 

Coe said: “The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are the UK ’s Games.

 

"This year’s Roadshow will show the whole country how everyone can be part of the 2012 Games, and everyone can benefit from the legacy long after the final race has been won.

 

“Improving sports participation has long been one of our most important legacy objectives from the Games, and this year’s Roadshow will focus on just that.

 

"Every visitor at every event will have a range of opportunities to try new sports and learn about sports facilities in their local area.

 

"This country already has a passion for sport – and deepening that passion for playing sport and coaching sport will be an important legacy which will outlast us all.”

 

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: “I am determined to ensure that these will be a Games for the whole UK .

 

"That is why we are launching the second UK-wide Roadshow to take 2012’s message and inspiration to every corner of England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland .

 

“Last year the focus was on ‘being part’ of the 2012 experience. This year it will be on the big Olympic and Paralympic ambition – motivating people to take part in sport.

 

“Winning the right to host the Games has given us an extraordinary opportunity to transform sport in the UK – providing the inspiration, facilities and environment to radically increase participation, for both the able-bodied and those with disabilities.

 

“In addition, we’ll use the Roadshow as an opportunity to take our ideas for the exciting wider legacy from 2012 to the UK so people have a chance to contribute their views at this crucial stage.”

 

Jennie Price, the chief executive of Sport England, commented: “We want people to participate in sport as enthusiastically as we watch it and debate it.

 

"The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012 have the power to inspire us all to play sport and we must make sure that everyone, wherever they live, benefits from them.”

 

Dianne Thompson, the chief executive of Camelot Group plc, who run the National Lottery, said: “The National Lottery is playing a major role in funding the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and the Roadshow represents a great opportunity to highlight this and thank Lottery players for their fantastic contribution.

 

"Over £3 billion of National Lottery funding has been invested in sport across the UK since 1994, and, given that the Lottery is all about creating winners, we hope that the Roadshow will encourage even more people in their pursuit of sporting glory.”

 

The full schedule is as follows: