The flames on the Olympic Torch for London 2012 are barely extinguished, but the UK is wasting no time in ensuring that the much talked about ‘Olympic Legacy’ is realised. Medal winners and sporting greats are getting behind a grassroots campaign to increase sports participation this weekend (18/19 August).

A nationwide grassroots campaign to capture the once in a lifetime opportunity of hosting the Olympic Games in the UK will see 5,000 events happen across the UK as part of building the sporting and volunteering legacy from London 2012. The campaign will mark the first national sporting weekend of its kind to be put on by a host country in the immediate afterglow of the Games.

Backed by Team GB medal winners past and present, HRH the Duke of Cambridge as well as UK Prime Minister, Rt Hon David Cameron MP and London 2012 Chairman, Lord Coe KBE, ‘Join In Local Sport’ is an independent charity funded by government with the specific aim of getting as many people as possible to turn up, take part and join in at their local sports facilities on 18th / 19th August – the first weekend after the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Sport clubs and communities across the UK have been preparing for the unprecedented enthusiasm for sport that they always knew hosting the Games in the UK would generate. The ‘Join In’ weekend is designed to help capture the spirit of the Games and bring it back to the place it begins for all great champions – their local sports facilities. Enabling clubs to convert this once in a lifetime wave of interest into help, support and membership from their local community.

Check out the ‘Join In Local Sport’ events in the South East:
• Badminton Taster Session at Forest Recreation Centre, Horsham
• Athletics Training at William Parker Athletics Club, Hastings
• Dance Class at Hollingdean Community Centre, Brighton
• Boccia for the Disabled at Prince Arthur Road Indoor Bowls Club, Gillingham
• Give it a Go Hockey at Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone, Kent

For more information on events near you, visit www.joininuk.org and enter your postcode.