Sheffield has been celebrating a milestone in the countdown to London 2012 with a host of activities to mark one year until the games.
The highlight of the week-long diary of events in the city took place yesterday (Wednesday July 27) exactly one year from the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Some of the country's finest sporting talent who are training in the city ahead of 2012, including elite British runner Emily Freeman and GB diver Nick Robinson-Baker, gathered at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (EISS) to celebrate the milestone.
They were joined by Olympic silver medallist Peter Elliott and representatives from Sheffield - Lighting the Flame.
To mark the occasion at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, a new aquatic photographic exhibition displaying striking images of the county's finest swimming stars was launched on Monday, July 25.
The gallery project was recognised by the London 2012 Organising Committee as a non-commercial project inspired by the London 2012 games that will also help to increase sports participation and, as a result, was awarded the London 2012 Inspire mark.
Large images of members of the City of Sheffield Swim Squad including GB diver Sarah Barrow and the GB synchronised swimming team, captured by local photographer Simon Wright, will now hang in the venue reception and the gallery, and are open to the public, in the lead-up to the Olympics.
Monday saw the launch of a Sheffield International Venues (SIV) summer Supercamp.
It will be held throughout the summer holidays across three venues - iceSheffield, the EISS and Don Valley Stadium - giving children the chance to take part in a range of sporting activities at the training venue used by World Heptathlon Champion and London 2012 hopeful Jessica Ennis.
Scores of children from Tankersley St Peters Primary School got involved in the Olympic countdown celebrations when they visited EISS for an action-packed school sports day on Tuesday July 26.
Steve Brailey MBE, chief executive of SIV said: "With London 2012 now only one year away, the excitement will really start to build across the country and the rest of the world. The countdown has begun.
"Sheffield is a city of sporting excellence and it is important that we get involved in the Olympic celebrations. Having our own activities to mark one year to go is the perfect way to get it started."
Councillor Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet Member for Business, Jobs and Growth, said: "Sheffield has always been a city with an unbeatable sporting pedigree, but the momentum is really ramping up now with one year to go until the London 2012 Olympics.
"Sheffield is hosting a number of high profile international elite sporting events, as well as being host to many international Olympic training camps from USA diving to Brazilian judo. We are also home to many of the GB Olympic teams, and it is estimated that in one year's time, when the Games begin, one in seven British Olympians will have trained in Sheffield."
The City Council is leading a city partnership - Sheffield - Lighting the Flame - to maximise the benefits and opportunities around the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone in Sheffield. Go to http://www.Sheffield-lightingtheflame.com/ to find out more information, and to sign up to the newsletter.
