The artistic directors of the ceremonies are searching for 5,000 volunteer performers to fill roles as dancers, actors, percussionists and general all-round performers. Successful applicants will perform in front of a packed stadium and a worldwide broadcast audience for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of one of the largest events ever staged in the UK. Applicants must apply by 13 February, and be able to participate in up to two auditions that will take place on evenings and weekends in February and March, up to two or three rehearsal sessions each week of up to four hours per session from June, and a number of all day rehearsals in the three weeks leading up to each Ceremony. All of these rehearsals will take place in East London.

Jenny Sealey, Co-Artistic Director of the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony said: ‘As with the Olympic Ceremonies we’re looking for both disabled and non-disabled applicants and previous performance experience is not required; we’re really looking for enthusiasm and commitment. Anyone with a positive attitude, huge amounts of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and to millions of people around the world should get onto the London 2012 website now and sign up.’

People can find more information and register their interest for this opportunity by completing the online application form at www.london2012.com/ceremoniescasting.

For those who want a chance to see the successful applicants in action there are a limited number of tickets still available for the Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies at www.tickets.london2012.com

It is time to make sure you are prepared for changes to the transport network during the Games. To help you get started, we’re offering free planning workshops to all affected businesses.

The workshops will cover a range of helpful topics, including:

How the Games will impact businesses
How to make an action plan
Managing staff travel
Managing incoming and outgoing deliveries
Communicating changes to staff, customers and suppliers

To sign up for a free workshop and keep your business running smoothly during the Games, just send your business name, location and number of employees to keeponrunning@london2012.com.

The deadline is Friday 20 January. Visit http://btlondon2012.co.uk/torch-form-entry.php to make your nomination.

Whether they have been together for years or are individuals grouped together with a common story, Olympic Sponsor BT is looking for teams that:

Have inspired someone to do something they never thought possible

• Have encouraged others to work together to succeed
• Have used the values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality to make a difference
• Have pushed the boundaries of what is achievable and helped others to do whatever they put their mind to

Each team will be made up of five individuals who will work together to take the Paralympic Flame approximately 750 metres on its journey from Stoke Mandeville to the Olympic Stadium in London. You can nominate your team of five or nominate a group you know.

If you think they can inspire others, we want to hear from you!

I am 28 years old and I live with my beautiful wife Vicky and baby daughter Ella (5 months old). I have lived in Hampshire all of my life and I work as the Assistant London 2012 Co-Ordinator for Hampshire County Council. But the main thing I will be telling you about is arguably the most bonkers wheelchair sport there is called wheelchair rugby. I could spend ages writing all about it but I am going to cheat and give you this link (it saves you reading pages and pages of text and they explain it better that I can) -

http://paralympics.channel4.com/the-sports/video/videoid=1231781/index.html

I have been on the GB squad for 2 years and I am training ridiculously hard trying to secure a spot on the 2012 team. I hope to use this blog to tell you about my ups and downs, early morning starts and behind the scenes stuff that most people don’t get to see on my journey over the next few months leading up to London 2012. You can help shape my blog – let me know what would you like to know about and what you would like me to cover. In the meantime, I will leave you with these pictures. These were taken as promotional pictures for the New Forest National Park. Robert Nemeti the photographer decided the best spot was on top of a hill in December. That’s right I am on top of a hill, in December, in a vest. Between shots I tried my best to wrap up as warm as possible.

Bye for now

Aaron
@aaronphippsgbwr

Local Leaders is a programme being launched by London 2012 to invite the nation’s organisers and planners to get ready for the Games. Being a Local Leader is simple: all you need is an idea of how you will celebrate the Games and then get organising. Local Leaders can create their own events or get involved with the some of the ideas communities across theUKhave suggested to London 2012. From Gardening for the Games to planning a Sports Quiz or an Opening Night In, get your friends, family and neighbours ready to celebrate.

When you sign up you will get hints and tips to help you plan your celebrations, plus access to exclusive toolkits as we get closer to the Games. Join thousands of others around the UKto organise events to make the Games local. Sign up at www.london2012.com/localleaders

Some ideas to get you started …

• Garden for the Games Spring 2012: dig out your trowel and get planting! Use your window pot, garden or community allotment to celebrate through all things floral.
• Sports Quiz May. Know your Fencing from your Phelps? Hold a Big Sports Quiz at home or down the pub to find your local ‘brains of the Games’.
• School’s Out Summer 2012: Mums, dads, teachers…every week over the school holidays we will provide you with stuff to do to get the kids ready for the Games
• Opening Night In 27 July. Opening Ceremony: it’s showtime. Cook up a storm with themed recipes, or create a VIP gala night as the Games get under way.
• Super Saturday 4 August.  A medal-winning weekend. Invite neighbours you’ve never chatted to round for a BBQ to watch record breaking athletes
• Light a Lantern 24-29 August. Glow with the glory the Paralympic Games: make a lantern and join a Flame Festival… or make a lantern procession of your own.
• Last Day of the Games 9 September. It’s (almost) all over. Sob. Whether you invite three friends or your whole community, make sure the summer finishes in style.

For queries or further information, please email Local.Leaders@London2012.com

 BT is looking for nominees who have adopted some of the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality to make a difference; pushed the boundaries of what is achievable; or helped others to accomplish whatever they put their mind to. You can nominate your own team of five or a team you know by visiting  www.bt.com/London2012  or calling 08000 232399.

BT Ambassador and Paralympic gold medallist, Liz Johnson said: “Although swimming isn’t a team sport, I rely on a dedicated team of coaches, physios and nutritionists to help me be the best. It’s fantastic that BT is giving inspirational teams the opportunity to be Torchbearers – this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity so I urge people to get nominating!”

The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay programme will begin on Friday 24 August 2012 with the first flame lighting event to be held in London. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, the greater Belfast area, Edinburgh and Cardiff will each host a flame lighting moment and an evening Paralympic Flame Festival. A special ceremony will be held at the last Flame Festival in Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement, during which all four flames will be brought together to create the Paralympic Flame.

The relay will then begin at Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday 28 August 2012. Over the next 24-hours, each team of five will work together to take the flame approximately 750 metres on its journey from Stoke Mandeville to the Olympic Stadium in London, where Torchbearers will light the cauldron and officially open the London 2012 Paralympic Games on 29 August.

Nominators and Torchbearers must be at least 12 years old and nominations must be submitted by midnight on the 20^th January.

Celebratory flames from across Great Britain & Northern Ireland will combine at Stoke Mandeville Stadium as part of Paralympic Flame Festival before beginning a 24 hour  Paralympic Flame journey to the Stratford and the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Building on the traditional Torch Relay format, the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay programme will begin on Friday 24 August 2012 with the first flame lighting event to be held in London. Over the Bank Holiday, Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff will each host a flame lighting moment in the morning followed by a Paralympic Flame Festival later in the day.

Each of the four flames will be lit by the energy of physical human endeavour, with each city creating its unique method of lighting the flame.

The four flames will be brought together to create the Paralympic Flame at special ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, on Tuesday 28 August 2012. Later that evening, there will be a 24 hour Torch Relay to journey the Paralympic Flame to London for the opening of the Paralympic Games.

580 Torchbearers working as teams of five will then carry the Flame from Stoke Mandeville towards the Stadium to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Details about how Torchbearers will be selected are to be announced at a later date.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled that Stoke Mandeville Stadium will be hosting the special Paralympic Torch ceremony that will create the Paralympic Flame.  Day after day our Paralympians show the energy  of human endeavour both on and off the sporting field of play. By lighting the flame which heralds the start of their competition through the energy of human endeavour, the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay is a tribute to their inspirational stories of courage and determination and a celebration of teamwork right across the UK.

Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive of WheelPower, owners of Stoke Mandeville Stadium, said “We are delighted to be welcoming home the Paralympic Movement for the Paralympic Torch Relay.   The London 2012 Games provide us with the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Britain’s proud heritage as the birthplace of Paralympic Sport and use the power of the Games and the uniting of the Flame as a symbol to inspire disabled people throughout the world to transform their lives through sport.”

Spanish paddler, Ekaitz Saies said of Eton Dorney: “I love it here. I came in 2008 to train…and it is a very good place. I have never been to the Olympic Games and if I can be here next year I think it will be the summit of my career. I love the course, I loveLondon, I have been here many times. I can’t think of a better place thanLondonto win an Olympic medal.”

The event has been used by London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) to test the course, timing, technology and workforce.

David Luckes, Head of Sport Competition said of the event: “Although Eton Dorney is a proven world-class venue, it was still crucial for us to test our operations ahead of the Games. The event has gone remarkably well and we have seen some fantastic sport, witnessing world class athletes competing in an Olympic venue. We are pleased with how the event has run and are delighted with the athlete feedback.”

The 200m Canoe Sprint events will be part of the Games for the first time in 2012, but McKeever’s success could not be emulated by team mates Liam Heath and Jonny Schofield in the 200m Men’s Kayak Double (K2), after they finished in bronze medal position behind French athletes Arnaud Hybois and Sebastien Jouve in second and it was the German’s Ronal Rauhe and Jonas Ems who took the gold medal spot.

Performing in front of a live audience of 70,000 and a broadcast audience of more than one billion people this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of one of the largest events ever staged in the UK.

Artistic Directors, Danny Boyle and Kim Gavin are searching for 10,000 volunteer performers to fill roles as dancers, percussionists and general all-round performers in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies respectively. To be eligible you must be aged 18 years or older on 1 March 2012. Performing opportunities for Under 18’s will be facilitated through a separate process, at details to be announced at a later date.

Previous performance experience is not required; Ceremonies Volunteer Performers simply need lots of enthusiasm, personality, a positive attitude, huge amounts of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and to millions of people around the world.  However, to deliver Ceremonies of this scale to a world audience a substantial commitment is required.  You must be able to participate in:

• Up to two auditions that will take place evenings and weekends in November and early December of this year;
• Up to two or three rehearsal sessions each week of up to four hours per session from March 2012, and a number of all day rehearsals in the three weeks leading up to each Ceremony.

All of these rehearsals will take place in East London. Whilst it is possible for us to offer assistance with

public transportation to and from rehearsals between certain zones within the Transport for London transportation network you will be responsible for covering the cost of your own transportation outside these travel zones.

If you would like a chance to take part in the greatest show on earth, register your interest by completing the online application form at www.london2012.com/ceremoniescasting. The deadline for receipt of applications is Wednesday 31 August 2011.  You can apply at any time during these three weeks.  This is not a first come first served process and only one application per person will be accepted.  If we are lucky enough to receive over 15,000 applications a computerized draw will be used to randomly create the short list for auditions.