THE Olympic Games is ‘the greatest celebration of humanity on the planet’, according to triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards.

And South Lakeland will help to kick off the country’s summer festival before the 2012 Games get underway in London.

With fewer than 500 days to go until the Olympics, Sydney gold medallist Edwards joined Kendal Arts International director Julie Tait to announce that Lakes Alive would host a major arts event – probably at The Glebe, Bowness – on June 21, 2012.

Edwards said “The Olympics is not just about sport, but about culture, art, social and volunteering opportunities.

"There will be nothing quite like it in this country again.”

He said he was delighted with the work of Lakes Alive in ‘trailblazing’ the cultural show.

“Lakes Alive has been one of the success stories of the Cultural Olympiad.

"Last year it involved 155,000 people and brought £3million to Cumbria.

“It is the sort of project when we bid for the Games that was hoped to inspire people and it is fantastic it will be part of the London 2012 Festival.”

While details of the event are still to be revealed, Julie said Les Commandos Percu – who wowed Mintfest with a spectacular fireworks display last summer – would lead the Lakes event.

She said: “We will be one of a few launch events for the Cultural Olympiad in different parts of the country and want to have a real celebration up here.

"It is amazing recognition for the Lakes Alive programme.

“To be able to show the role of art and culture as a catalyst to encourage more people to visit the area in 2012 is an honour – and now all we need people to come and see what we can offer.”

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