A new Community Fund will be launched at the Olympic Legacy in Action gala dinner this week to mark the 10th anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The special event taking place at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park showcases the wide contribution that Sheffield made to the success of London 2012, and the unique legacy of the Games being delivered in the city.
Contributions from sponsorship and legacy table packages will help kick-start the new Community Fund geared to supporting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of communities surrounding Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park – one of the most disadvantaged areas in the City Region.
The Fund is being launched by the Park with support from Yorkshire Sport Foundation and Move More Sheffield. Projects will be delivered in collaboration with organisations working within local communities and will focus on supporting the ongoing delivery of Sheffield’s Olympic legacy and a healthier, happier, more connected city.
The gala dinner, which takes place in the centre of the indoor athletics arena at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS) on Friday 9 September, will also be a major fundraiser for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Helipad Appeal.
Around 700 guests are expected at the event, which will be attended by a number of Olympians and Paralympians including current individual trampoline world champion Bryony Page and taekwondo athlete Sarah Stevenson, who read the Olympic oath at the London 2012 Games opening ceremony.
Sheffield’s Britain’s Got Talent 2022 finalist Maxwell Thorpe will provide the entertainment at the dinner which celebrates the London 2012 Olympic legacy being delivered in the city through transformational economic, health, sporting and environmental change.
That change is being driven and delivered by Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, spearheaded by Legacy Park Ltd Chair and former Sports Minister Richard Caborn, who was a key figure in the London 2012 bid.
Richard will exclusively launch a limited-edition extract from his soon-to-be published memoirs at the celebratory dinner. The small book – ‘London 2012: From Concept to Legacy’ – has been produced to coincide with the 10th anniversary event with proceeds going to the £6m Helipad Appeal.
Full of anecdotes and insights, the book details Richard’s days as Sports Minister and reflects on his role in winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympics. It also reveals how his commitment to delivering a legacy of the Games led to the vision for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
Richard said: “I’m excited to share the story and vision of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, including how we put the legacy legislation onto the Statute Book. As the UK’s only life sciences park dedicated to innovation in sport, health, and wellbeing I’m committed to showcasing the brilliant work we have done and continue to do.
“I can’t wait to celebrate the 10th Anniversary with the people who have made the Legacy what it is, all whilst raising money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, which is of course an integral organisation in our region for health and wellbeing.”
The Olympic Legacy in Action Dinner will feature a live auction sponsored by Westfield Health and hosted by well-known Sheffield auctioneer Lucy Crapper.
The event’s headline sponsor Scarborough Group International is the development partner for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and is due to unveil its Masterplan for the next £250m development phase at the Park. Other sponsors include Sytner BMW and Sytner Land Rover, Gripple, Sheffield Hallam University, Homes by Holmes and Sheffield Forgemasters.
