Open weekend marks two-year countdown to London 2012

There are only two years to go until London 2012 and there are lots of activities taking place in Manchester to mark the occasion.

The London 2012 Open Weekend, which takes place this Saturday and Sunday (24 - 25 July) celebrates the legacy of the Olympic Games and the impact that they're having both in terms of sport and culture in Manchester.

Athletes are choosing Manchester's world-class facilities to train for the Olympics and the Paralympics, while the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad has also been set up to deliver a series of events showcasing the UK's arts and culture to the rest of the world.

So Manchester is doing its bit and hosting a series of events for the Open Weekend to give people the chance to get involved.

On Saturday, the Northwest's Stories of the World project will be launched as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

Taking place 5pm until 7pm at Whitworth Art Gallery, the event kick-starts an exciting two-year programme of work which gives young people the opportunity to work across six museums in Manchester and Lancashire as co-curators, event organisers, digital journalists, photographer and film makers. It is hoped the results will introduce new audiences to the region's museums and galleries.  

This is followed by the Urbanathalon and Urban Moves Bicycle Ballet, which both take place on Sunday, to introduce people to sport in a fun and informal way.

The Urbanathalon is in its third year, and people are invited to raise money for their favourite charity by tackling a totally original urban-obstacle course around east Manchester. This multi-disciplinary race will see people staggering up the 'Stairway to Heaven' at Eastlands, vaulting over derelict cars and scrambling up a giant haystack.
Equally unusual and challenging is the Urban Moves Bicycle Ballet in the city centre, which is a mass participation event giving people the opportunity to experience the 'dance of cycling'.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "These events are all about having fun and are a great way to get involved in sport. One of our main goals for London 2012, is that we encourage more people to try sport, whether it's for their health and fitness or for their potential as medal winners of the future."

The sports industry haven't been forgotten either during the Open Weekend, with an important sports conference taking place at Sportcity on Saturday for sports professionals to come together to discuss aspects such as coaching, volunteering, funding and disability awareness - all important aspects of sport at grass routes level, which can help create the stars of the future.

Cllr Amesbury added: "The conference at Sportcity will sit alongside all the other events being hosted as part of the Open Weekend, and reminds us that a great deal goes in to preparing for big events such the Olympic Games. With only two years to go it's a good time to remember the great job that all the sports clubs, volunteers and staff do to give young people in particular the best start possible."

For more information on the Urbanathalon visit http://www.urbanathlon.co.uk/
For more information on the bicycle ballet visit http://www.bicycleballet.co.uk/