Two of the region’s rising sports stars were given a preview of the London 2012 Olympic Park yesterday. Rachel Wearmouth joined them for the exclusive tour.

FOR talented swimmer Lyndon Longhorne, competing in the London 2012 Olympics was once just a distant dream.

But yesterday, as he marvelled at the 18,000-capacity Aquatics Centre being built at the Olympic Park, he got a taste of just how big – and how special – it would be to take part.

“This is where the hard work starts,” said the 14-yearold, from Crook, County Durham.


He was joined on yesterday’s bus tour of the site with Olympic triple jumper Jonathan Edwards, by 15- year-old footballer Adam Jackson, from Darlington.

They took in the buzz of activity at the park, as diggers and workers scurried around to complete the five towering arenas that will play host to the cream of the world’s athletes in two years’ time.

With a staggering budget of £5.3bn, it becomes clearer with every turn how the park will wow the millions who flock to the borough of Hackney for the Games.

Lyndon, who lost both legs and part of an arm to meningitis, hopes to swim with Team GB at the Paralympics.

He won the trip when he was named The Northern Echo’s Local Hero, and is also celebrating his acceptance on the prestigious World Class Talent Programme.

“I just hope I can make 2012,” he said. “If not then I still want to be here. It’s going to be amazing.”

Longfield School pupil Adam has also set his sights on competing with the best.

He is proud to have helped the England Under-16s secure the Victory Shield this season and has been awarded a scholarship with Middlesbrough FC.

He said: “I had a great time on the tour and seeing all the buildings starting to take shape.

“And meeting Jonathan Edwards was definitely a highlight of the day.

“It is very exciting that the Games is going to be held in this country during my lifetime.

The last time they were held here my parents weren’t even born, so I hope I will be at least able to go and watch some part of the Games so that I can tell my children that I was there.”

Representatives from the Sunee initiative and the Flow project also took the tour.

Sunee, driven by the North- East’s five universities, has brought sport to 3,500 disadvantaged people in the region and was awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark.

Flow is an art project which will take the shape of a symbolic waterwheel on the River Tyne in a bid to “bring” the Games to the region.

Newcastle triple jumper Jonathan Edwards has held the world record since the 1995 World Championships.

Passionate about sport and the region, he is also deputy chairman of London 2012’s nations and regions group.

He said: “The individual stories I’ve heard today represent the many ways people right across the region are inspired by, involved in, benefiting from or delivering the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Together, we will ensure the four-year cultural programme, the education opportunities and the sporting events themselves are a spectacular success and deliver a legacy for generations to come.”