The Cotswolds and the 2012 Games

The Cotswolds is a sporting area and we are excited about the Olympic Games returning to London in 2012.

The Cotswolds have traditionally been a romantic escape from London, a big green space just west of the City.  Many overseas visitors add a visit to the Cotswold hills to a stay in London, to experience around 200 honey-colour stone villages, consummately ‘English’ pubs and B&Bs, and the real atmosphere of rural England.  Some of Britain’s best Manor House hotels are here.

If you’re visiting London and the South of England for the London Olympic Games, the Cotswolds are recommended as the perfect complement to London. London to Cotswolds rail services are fast and frequent and the journey time of 90 minutes is around the same by car.

For our part, we’ll be joining the Olympic party enthusiastically. Our festivals and events make up a great cultural offer all through 2012 and a stay in the Cotswolds puts Bath, Oxford and Stratford Upon Avon (as well as London) within easy range.

In Brockworth, the public is invited to an Olympic Torch Party which will kick off at 2pm at the Brockworth Rugby Football Club. From 2pm there will be a range of children’s activities, including opportunities for youngsters to create their own Olympic Torches, flags and paper aeroplanes which will then be submitted into a competition later on in the evening.

At 4pm, everyone will join together to walk down to the A46 to watch the Olympic Torch Relay pass through Brockworth.

Once the relay has passed through, everyone will be encouraged to head back to Brockworth RFC for the after-party.

There will an alternative cheese roll, which will be a smaller version of the famous Coopers Hill event, where contenders will roll mini cheeses and try to score as many points as possible by landing the cheeses in a scoring grid.

There will also be a paper aeroplane competition which is being run in conjunction with The Jet Age Museum, with all entrants being judged on design and distance and at 6pm Brockworth Puppy and Dog Club is holding a dog and owner obstacle course.

If that’s not enough, go karting (for three to 10 year olds), bouncy castles, giant jenga, and an Olympic quiz will also be on offer.

Refreshments will be available and there will be a BBQ offering a range of delicious food – including specially created Brockworth Olympic sausages, which have been created by Nick Browns Butchers in Longlevens.

The party will end with a Beacon lighting event to light the village up using the residents’ very own Olympic flame.

Brockworth Parish and Borough Councillor Jude Perez said: “We’re putting on an event to remember. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Brockworth and we really hope everyone who lives in the area or happens to be passing will join us so we can all celebrate together.”

Cheltenham Racecourse has been chosen as one of 66 locations across the UK to host an Olympic Torch Relay evening celebration.

The family event on the 23rd of May will be free to attend and will revolve around a stage show featuring an exciting mix of music, dance and digital media. The main stage show will be presented by the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) together with presenting partners Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The highlight of the evening will be the arrival of the Olympic flame and the symbolic lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

There will also be entertainment throughout the evening showcasing sporting and artistic talent from across Gloucestershire. Local bands, dance groups and arts organisations will be performing in the Entertainment Arena on the Parade Ring and an interactive sports village will feature a wide range of demonstrations and have-a-go activity stalls.

Additionally, the Royal Oak pub in Prestbury, near Cheltenham Racecourse, has been chosen by Coca-Cola to host a Torch Relay Garden Party from 4pm until 10pm on Wednesday 23rd May.. There is an outside bar serving Coca-Cola and Pimms, a BBQ, and mini-torch racing for kids.

In Maisemore on 24 May, a breakfast with a difference will be available at The White Hart from 7am. As well as a bite to eat, there will be entertainment from a local magician and local Barton Street Dancers before the torch passes through.

Once the torch arrives at 9.15am, a local bagpiper will follow the torch procession to encourage the crowd.

Finally, once the torch has passed through the village, there will be a Quarter Peel performance by Maisemore Bell Ringers from 10am.

Jane Horwood representing Maisemore Torch Group said: “We’ve got an early start prepared for the torch relay and the plan is for people to start meeting from 7am for some breakfast and entertainment. It’s not every day that we get to celebrate something as big as this so I hope that as many people as possible come out and join us along the route in Maisemore.”

A free to enter Olympic Torch Festival organised by volunteers from the community is to be based on the King Georges Field (behind the Bell Inn) in Shurdington on 23 May.

The fun will start at 4pm with games and races organised by Shurdington Primary School, and all participants will receive a medal and certificate.

Other activities, including a hog roast, teas and home made cakes, an inflatable assault course, go-karting, local bands, sumo wrestling and much more will continue into the evening.

The bar at the Shurdington Sports Pavilion will also be open.

Richard Jones Chairman of the organising committee said: “We’ve got so much going on at our festival, there really is something for everyone. We’re lucky enough to have the relay passing through our area so we wanted to put on an event that would be remembered. I really encourage members of the public to come along and enjoy the celebrations.”

Find out about  Gloucestershire's local Olympic heroes and prospects

Olympics or Olimpicks?

By curious coincidence, 2012 sees the 400th anniversary of our own ‘Cotswold Olympicks’ (not Olympics) on 3rd June. This actually makes our Games older than the Modern Olympiad, although we accept that the TV audience may be a little larger for the London event.

Our 2012 Olympicks take place early in June and are one of England’s most atmospheric ancient ceremonies – and the only place to see World Championship shin kicking. Bands march, cannon fire, rustic activities and wrestling take place, and the evening is brought to a close with fireworks and a torchlight procession into Campden followed by dancing in the square. Find out more at www.olimpickgames.co.uk