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Press Releases
Blue Peter winners star in Olympic Games handover ceremonies
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Two young Blue Peter competition winners will be centre stage in
Beijing this summer as they take part in the closing ceremonies of
the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games performing live in front of millions of people worldwide.
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Blue Peter, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in October 2008, has
taken the two winners to Beijing for an incredible once-in-a
lifetime opportunity.
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As the Beijing Games come to a close tomorrow (Sunday 24 August), London
becomes the next Host City of the summer Olympic Games and this is
marked by short performance by London 2012 as part of the closing
ceremony.
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Ten year-old Tayyiba Dudhwala from East London has a
starring role in the handover ceremony alongside stars including David Beckham, Leona Lewis and
British cycling gold medal winner Victoria Pendleton.
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Nine-year-old Gareth Picken from Gloucestershire will star in the Paralympic
Games handover performance on Wednesday 17 September.
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The two children will help to welcome the world to London as part
of the eight-minute handover segments within the closing
ceremonies.
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The segments aim to reflect the capital through dance
and music and have been created and staged by the London Organising
Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
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In the
ceremony, which features an iconic London bus, Tayyiba will receive
a football from another child, which she will hand to David
Beckham.
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Gareth is also to take a central role in the
Paralympic Games closing ceremony segment, which is set to be an
equally spectacular performance.
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The eyes of the world will be
centred on Tayyiba during this historic event which will be watched
by a crowd of 90,000 people in the Beijing Olympic Stadium and millions more worldwide.
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The competition was run in partnership with LOCOG.
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To enter
children had to write a postcard to a child in Beijing telling them
why they were excited about the Olympic Games or the Paralympic
Games.
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With such an extraordinary prize on offer the competition
solicited a huge response.
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Tim Levell, Editor of Blue Peter, says: "Blue Peter prides itself on
its inspiring competitions which give children remarkable
opportunities they would never normally be able to achieve.
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"This
year's Olympic Games and the forthcoming 2012 London Games are
hugely exciting for our viewers and we are delighted to be able to
play a part in this historic occasion.
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"It marks a wonderful start
to our 50th anniversary celebrations."
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Support for Blue Peter during the Olympic Games extends beyond the
handover ceremonies. Members of Team GB have also praised the show.
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World
record holder and double gold medal winner Rebeccca Adlington spoke
of her desire to become a Blue Peter presenter in her winning
interviews and Bryony Shaw had her Blue Peter badge pinned to her
as she windsurfed to her bronze medal victory.
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Blue Peter viewers will be able to watch a behind-the-scenes film
of Tayyiba and Gareth's amazing experience when the new series
returns on 23 September 2008.
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VT
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