Since we became the first National Partner to the London 2012 Games in 2007 we have been bringing the inspiration and excitement of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the doorsteps of our customers, communities and schools right across the UK. We helped bring the Olympic Torch Relay to within a 10 mile journey of 95% of the UK population which 15 million members of the public lined the streets to see. Our Local Heroes programme has helped fund and support 1,000 talented emerging athletes on their journey to success and nearly 9 million pupils and 84% of schools in Britain have taken part in National School Sport Week and doing more sport as a result.
We are delighted to be continuing the inspiration of the Games in 2013.
Since 2009, 21,000 schools and almost 9 million school children have participated in National School Sport Week, delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust (England and Wales) and sportscotland (Scotland).
In 2012 nearly 4.3 million young people participated in our biggest celebration of sport with schools staging their own Games and welcoming the world’s athletes and cultures on London 2012 World Sport Day. We inspired young people through the Torch Relay and shared the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Now the Games are over, we want to continue the celebrations and enthusiasm that young people have for sport and start the planning 2013. National School Sport Week will take place from 24 to 28 June 2013 and we’ll be helping schools create their own Sports Fairs, providing strong links between school, club and community.
Working in partnership with SportsAid since 2008, the Local Heroes programme has funded and recognised more than 1,000 up and coming young athletes across the country. The Local Heroes programme provides essential funding to emerging athletes across Britain at a time when they need it most. We’re proud to have supported the Local Heroes selected for the London 2012 Games; including 20 Olympic and 26 Paralympic athletes. ‘Alumni’ Kat Copeland won Gold in the women’s lightweight double sculls event at the Olympic Games and Local Hero Jon-Allan Butterworth won 3 Silver Medals in cycling at the Paralympic Games. Our total investment to date into supporting young emerging talent in Britain is nearly £1.5m.
We will continue to support our 150 Local Heroes in 2013 from communities all over the UK, including 50 young Scottish athletes in the run up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
As the only National Presenting Partner of both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, we brought the inspiration of the Olympic Flame to the doorsteps of our customers, colleagues, communities, branches and schools right across the UK.
In 2011 we asked the UK public to nominate people to be Torchbearers in the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays for the difference they made in their communities. And we invited everyone to cheer them on during the Relays.
The Olympic Flame arrived in the UK on 18 May 2012 and embarked on a 70 day journey, travelling within a 10 mile journey of 95% of the UK population. 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers (including over 1,000 selected by Lloyds TSB) were rewarded with the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. 15 million people lined the streets to witness this unique event.
The Paralympic Torch Relay began on 24 August 2012 with Flame Festivals in Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and Stoke Mandeville. A 24-hour Relay, consisting of 620 Torchbearers travelling in teams of 5, saw the Flame travel from Stoke Mandeville to London for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
In February 2010 Lloyds Banking Group pledged at least £1 billion of loans to support our business customers in the run up to London 2012. 2012 has been good for UK business and the community. Our independent report found the Games gave the UK economy a £16.5bn boost to GDP. We provided banking services to one in three London 2012 contract winners from all over the UK, enabling the economic benefit of the Games to be felt country-wide. We have deeper relationships with UK businesses who we’ve helped become better equipped to tender for major projects, through our guides, including Winning Business and Games Time Ready
Scottish Widows, Official Pensions and Investment Provider of the London 2012 Games, ran the Golden Hopefuls Programme to help four of Britain's world class sporting hopefuls who shared the same goal of competing at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Powerlifter Ali Jawed competed as part of ParalympicsGB.
