London 2012: School children from around the UK to form Guard of Honour at start of Athletes’ Parade

London: Around 2,000 school children from 250 Get Set Network schools across the UK will form a Guard of Honour to line the route as athletes make their way through the Olympic Park into the Olympic Stadium, for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

At the start of the Athlete’s Parade, during the athletes’ procession from the Olympic Village to the Olympic Stadium, the Guard of Honour will line the route, holding lanterns and banners they have created to support each of the 204 competing teams. For many of the 10,500 athletes the Guard of Honour will be their first experience of the London 2012 Games.

The school children have been preparing to provide a vibrant and diverse welcome for athletes competing at the Games. The students are already learning about the cultures and athletes of the 204 teams as part of their celebrations for London 2012 World Sport Day taking place next month on 25 June. World Sport Day will see schools across the UK join together in celebrating how sport can bring the cultures of the world together. The 250 schools forming the Guard of Honour will support one of the teams that they have chosen to learn about.

The Guard of Honour schools have been selected through the reward and recognition programme of Get Set, the official London 2012 education programme. They have demonstrated a commitment to living the Olympic and Paralympic Values and incorporating them into their school lives and curriculum.