Seb Coe reveals BT Storytellers and highlights their role in london 2012

Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, Seb Coe, today revealed 100 members of the public selected from across the UK to participate in BT’s Storytellers campaign to document the story of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A group of the successful Storytellers were joined by Seb Coe and British Olympic legend Daley Thompson at St Pancras Station to discuss their aim to capture the nation’s excitement in the build-up to, and during, London 2012. The final Storytellers group represents every region of the UK and comprises bloggers, social networkers, artists, writers, poets, graphic designers, film-makers, photographers, and musicians.

Seb Coe said, “It’s fantastic that BT has capitalised on developments in communications technology and social networking to bring this group of Storytellers together from all over the UK. We want the London 2012 Games to be everyone’s Games and BT’s Storytellers campaign will not only help us capture the spirit and excitement that surround London 2012 but also enable us to bring the Games to people across the UK.”

BT has today launched a new website www.bt.com/storytellers to showcase the views, opinions and creativity of the Storytellers. The interactive features of the site will allow the public to share in their stories, bringing them even closer to both the sporting and cultural aspects of London 2012.

As part of its commitment to showcasing British talent, BT plans to highlight some of the Storytellers’ creative work on London 2012 Live Sites ahead of the Games next year.

Members of the public will be able to interact and participate by suggesting subjects that the BT Storytellers will cover over the course of the year-long campaign. They will also be able to comment and vote on their work, share the content and nominate Storytellers for special awards and bonuses.

BT Storyteller Gary Boyd, headteacher of Southwold Primary School in Hackney, London, applied to become a Storyteller on behalf of the school. Gary said: “I really want our pupils to feel part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will be such an important event when we look back at the history of this country. The Olympic Park is only a stones-throw from the school but the BT Storytellers campaign will put it even closer to the heart of the action. The pupils have grown up with the development happening around them and we have used it to inspire creativity and have encouraged the children to document the London 2012 journey through video content and short films. The BT Storytellers campaign will give them a great outlet for this creativity and will help them understand everything the Games are about – passion, hard work and achievement.”

Former British decathlon star and Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson has joined the Storytellers campaign and will look to document his journey through a photography project. Daley said: “People might know me as an athlete but what they might not know is my passion for photography. When you look back at previous Olympic or Paralympic Games, there are some fantastic images that bring back so many memories. Whilst my competition days may be over, I’m excited about my journey to London 2012 and, along with other BT Storytellers, look forward to connecting with, and sharing in, one of the biggest cultural and sporting events our country has ever seen.”

Suzi Williams, Director of BT Group Marketing & Brand, said: “In our role as the official communications services partner, BT isn’t just providing the communications services to make London 2012 the most connected Games ever, we’re helping to tell the story of the greatest show on earth. Through our Storytellers campaign some of Britain’s most passionate and creative advocates of London 2012 will get closer to the Games. The Olympic and Paralympic Games is an event for the people of this country, and the world, and it is fitting that they should be some of the ones to tell the story of the London 2012 journey.”

A number of other celebrities and athletes who are excited about the Games have signed up to tell their stories in the run up to 2012. These include DJ Neil Fox, GB triathlon medal hopefuls Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee and Paralympic gold medallist Oscar ‘Blade Runner’ Pistorius.

BT is not only connecting people through the Storytellers campaign but is also making London 2012 the most connected Games ever, installing over 4000km of cabling and 80,000 connections across 94 different locations, including both London 2012 competition and non-competition venues.

The BT Storytellers will begin documenting the build-up to the Games from just before the One Year to Go London 2012 Olympic Games landmark. Their news, stories and artistic endeavours will be available to view and interact with at www.bt.com/storytellers