Essex Legacy 2012 Celebrations

London 2012 Open Weekend was a national programme that celebrated the countdown to London 2012 through community events that offered people the opportunity to participate and be part of the London 2012 countdown celebrations.

For 2012 the Open Weekend will be replaced by lots of weekends celebrating this rapid build up to the Games. Celebrations in Essex includeCelebrate your Fête, Sparks will Fly andTorch Relay Communities on Route Celebrations, SX Urban Games and many more.

Click here to learn more about how you can be part of the celebrations in Essex>>

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Open Weekend 2008-2011

London 2012 Open Weekend was an annual event that happened each summer leading up to 2012 to celebrate the countdown to the Open Ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

2011 marked the fourth year of Open Weekend which has now enabled over two million people to take part in sport, arts and culture events across the UK.

Open Weekend is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and is one of several projects leading up to 2012, that has enabled people to be part of the build up to the London 2012 Games and inspire a legacy that will include participation after the Games.

For Open Weekend 2011, Essex staged over 50 different sporting, arts and cultural events, creating the opportunity for people to try out something new, from archery to abseiling, bell ringing to basketball, and from dance classes to art exhibitions.

Even the employees of Essex County Council turned their hands at something new as they were offered a range of exciting sporting challenged at County Hall. Staff could abseil the heights of County Hall, take on Paralympic gold medallist Daniel Bentley at a Games of Boccia, or dance themselves silly in a Zumba fitness class.

Each event featured a special challenge, and gave visitors the chance to try something new or take an existing skill to a new level uniquely inspired by the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Click here to see what happened across the UK