National Youth Theatre welcomes athletes to London 2012 Games

National Youth Theatre members. Credit: courtesy NYT

The National Youth Theatre will welcome athletes to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.

Performers from the Arts Council-funded organisation will create, write, stage and perform the Team Welcome Ceremonies at the Athletes' Village.

London 2012 and NYT will welcome 204 Olympic teams and 170 Paralympic teams to the Athlete's Village and to the Games.

Paul Roseby, Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre said: 'It is fitting that the best in young British talent from the length and breadth of the nation will be welcoming the world to our Games in 2012.

'We're honoured to be chosen to fill the Athlete's Village with something very special, full of the wit, diversity and innovation of British youth. It is poignant too given our growing international status, as our cultural exchange programme reaches across the globe to other countries including China and Saudi Arabia.'

Moira Sinclair, London Executive Director of Arts Council England said: 'London will be welcoming the world's best athletes in 2012, and it is only right that they are greeted by these wonderfully talented young people.

'The National Youth Theatre has been a key part of the London 2012 story since their performance in the Beijing Closing Ceremony. Their continued involvement now in these Team Welcome Ceremonies encapsulates our hope that the Games would offer new opportunities for our young people and a once in a lifetime showcase for our world-class arts on an international stage. We are thrilled for NYT and can't wait to see what they create in response to this moment.'

Take part in London 2012

Find out more about the Cultural Olympiad, the arts festival designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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