British High Commission hosts Queen’s birthday party

The British High Commission (BHC) in Colombo hosted the Queen’s Birthday Party on Tuesday, 15 March, 2011 at Westminster House, coinciding with the 500 days milestone to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. This was also the day that tickets for Olympic events went on sale to the public.

Addressing the gathering, the British High Commissioner said, “The historical links between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom are long and deep.  But our ties are not just matters of the past.  Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom have many modern links which we should also recognise – in education, in trade and investment, and in working together to meet the challenges faced by the international community, from building a peaceful international  system  to tackling the global threats from climate change and natural disaster.”

Commenting on the 500 day milestone to the London 2012 Olympics he said: “The skyline of East London has changed dramatically over recent months as new sports venues have risen from the ground – on budget and on time. These developments are also green and sustainable, with a strong focus on the use of recycled material and the planting of thousands of trees, creating a new lung for the city of London.  We look forward to welcoming Olympic and Paralympic competitors from across the world – including Sri Lanka – in what we hope will be an unparalleled sporting and cultural celebration.”

The London Olympic Games is combining the largest regeneration project in Europe with the world’s largest sporting events.

 Construction of the main venues in the Olympic Park will be completed by 27 July 2011 – exactly one year before the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games. Already, the Lee Valley White Water Centre – the first brand new London 2012 venue – was completed in December last year, and the first Olympic Park sporting venue – the Velodrome – was completed in February this year.

Tickets for the Olympics have now gone on sale and excitement and enthusiasm for the Games is intensifying. 15,000 athletes and 10,000 officials are expected in London for the Games, while an estimated 4 billion people will be watching from around the world.

For more information on tickets, please contact the National Olympic Committee on 011 268 4420.