Youth Parliament Shadow Tom Brake at Olympic Planning Event

6.11.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Jul 2007

On Tuesday the 24th of July, Tom Brake, MP, attended a meeting in Canary Wharf to discuss the progress and plans for the 2012 Olympics with Tebogo Mamabolo and Alex Helliwell from the Sutton Youth Parliament. They were shadowing Tom for the day. They attended a presentation by the Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Lord Sebastian Coe, about the infrastructure and preparations for London 2012. The presentation was followed by a trip to a viewing gallery at the top of the tower block which provided an eagle's eye view over the Olympic site.

Tom Brake, MP said, "I was glad to bring Tebogo and Alex with me to discuss the progress and plans for the 2012 Olympics. They and their peers and younger pupils should be the main beneficiaries of the Olympics." Tom hopes that London 2012 will increase participation in sports at schools and encourage young people to train for London 2012.

Tebogo commented "I was overwhelmed by Tom's passion for the Games especially how he was concerned about the long term plans and tackling the environmental issues involved, he's surprisingly Greener than he seems."

Alex Helliwell said, "I enjoyed the opportunity to be at the frontline of the 2012 Olympic planning. I believe the games will inspire many generations of young people to excel in sports and life."