2012 - Live Your Dream

The Olympics and Beyond

2008 is the year of the Beijing Olympics, and billions of people around the world will be inspired by the talent and excitement of this global sporting spectacle. The end of the Beijing Games, however, marks the start of London's official role as incoming host city - and the beginning of four years of sporting and cultural opportunities for communities around the UK.

Latest News

Mayoral visit to Hungary
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Winchester flew to Hungary in early March to meet the Mayor of Gödöllo to discuss the potential for a new civic relationship between their two communities. Both towns are already twinned with Giessen in Germany, and Gödöllo is an active. There was another important reason for the mayoral mission, however. The Hungarian Mayor Dr Gemesi György is a member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee and Winchester's Councillors extended a warm invitation to the Hungarian team to come and use the excellent sports facilities in and around the city as a pre-Games training camp. Winchester's three 2012-accredited training facilities are the equestrian centre at Sparsholt College, the badminton centre at Westgate School and the recently opened Winchester Sports Stadium at Bar End. We wait for further developments on this front. Find out more about Gödöllo by clicking here: http://hungarystartshere.com/Godollo

British public right behind 2012 Olympics
A nationwide poll conducted for the department of Culture, Media and Sport suggests that public enthusiasm for London staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012 now stands at 78% - with more people interested in London 2012 and more believing that the Games will have a positive impact on their own lives and local communities. The poll also indicates that Britain's strong showing in the Beijing Games has led to 66% of those responding becoming more enthusiastic about London 2012 - and it reveals a high level of confidence tha the UK will stage a successful Games in four years time.

Pre Games Training Camps
There are four facilities in the Winchester District which have been approved for use as pre-Games training camps by competitor countries. They are the Winchester Sports Stadium, Westgate Badminton Centre and Sparsholt Equine Centre, who are working in partnership with the facilities at Hoplands Equestrian Centre.

Working together with local sports clubs we are hoping to attract some teams from countries across the globe to train here, getting used to the climate, food and customs. Find out more about training camps across the country by logging on to the 2012 website.

2012 Open Weekend........
As people across Britain get increasingly excited about London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, Winchester is joining other cities in the second of a series of annual Open Weekend. Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July brings a programme of free events and openings to encourage everyone to get out of the house and get active. And because the Olympics is about 'the marriage of sport and the arts', we are sure there'll be something to entertain you. Check the full programme by clicking here.

.........and Fiesta Fridays
In Winchester, we have decided to spread the entertainment over the whole summer holiday period, so Friday 24 July will be the first of six early evening Fiesta Fridays. Live music around the Buttercross and in The Square provides the atmosphere for a continental-style end to the week from 5pm to 8pm each Friday until the August Bank Holiday. Extended shopping opportunities; opportunities to try a new hobby or sport; eating al fresco, and simply meeting up in town with friends and family are all part of the Fiesta Fridays mix. You might find street theatre, have-a-go dance classes or a torch lit procession: each week will be a little bit different.

But it's family-friendly and completely free!

So come into town and thank Winchester it's Friday!