Children Of The Olympic Bid

Episodes

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020120070722Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

02012007072220070726 (R4)Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

020220070729Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

02022007072920070802 (R4)Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

020320070805Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

02032007080520070809 (R4)Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

030120080720

Peter White continues to follow the progress of the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

London's bid for the games focused on the legacy of sport for youth and the schoolchildren represented the rich cultural mix of London's East End. This series focuses on what's happened to them, their friends, families and those who train alongside them. As the Beijing Games approach he finds out how far sport still plays a part in their lives and focuses on their hopes and dreams for the future.

Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

030120080724

Peter White continues to follow the progress of the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

London's bid for the games focused on the legacy of sport for youth and the schoolchildren represented the rich cultural mix of London's East End. This series focuses on what's happened to them, their friends, families and those who train alongside them. As the Beijing Games approach he finds out how far sport still plays a part in their lives and focuses on their hopes and dreams for the future.

Following the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

030220080727

Peter White continues to follow the progress of the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

He focuses on the experiences of competitive swimmers in the capital, who badly need more access to pools. With the closure of the only Olympic-sized racing facility in the region, the lives of those training towards 2012 have become increasingly difficult, involving long journeys to and from training sessions.

Competitive swimmers in the capital badly need more access to pools.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

03022008072720080731 (R4)

Peter White continues to follow the progress of the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

He focuses on the experiences of competitive swimmers in the capital, who badly need more access to pools. With the closure of the only Olympic-sized racing facility in the region, the lives of those training towards 2012 have become increasingly difficult, involving long journeys to and from training sessions.

Competitive swimmers in the capital badly need more access to pools.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

030320080803

Peter White continues to follow the progress of the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

He catches up with athlete Jessica Manning, who was widely thought to be a real contender for the London games. But she has found it hard to commit to her training, and as her parents plan for their new life in Canada she is left regretting that she didn't try harder at both her sport and her studies.

Athlete Jessica Manning has found it hard to commit to her training.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

03032008080320080807 (R4)

Peter White continues to follow the progress of the 30 youngsters who travelled to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid.

He catches up with athlete Jessica Manning, who was widely thought to be a real contender for the London games. But she has found it hard to commit to her training, and as her parents plan for their new life in Canada she is left regretting that she didn't try harder at both her sport and her studies.

Athlete Jessica Manning has found it hard to commit to her training.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

040120090914

Peter White talks to the London youngsters who contributed to the bid to stage the 2012 Olympics.

Peter catches up with promising athlete Jessica Manning, who, at the time of London's 2012 bid, was widely thought to be a real contender for the London games. But since then she has found it hard to commit to training, following a move with her family to Canada. However, she has just been selected to take part in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in January 2010 and is thrilled to see how preperations there have been going.

Thomas Brown, a promising swimmer who narrowly missed out on competing in Beijing, is facing a make or break race for a place in the British swim squad. With everything resting on a selection event in Sheffield, he has to try and put his break-up with girlfriend Zaira behind him.

Leisje has left the comfort of home for a scholarship sixth-form place at a specialist boarding school, where she hopes to boost her chances in the sport she loves.

Peter White talks to the youngsters who contributed to the bid to stage the 2012 Olympics.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

040220090921

Peter White talks to the London youngsters who contributed to the bid to stage the 2012 Olympics.

Peter catches up with 18-year-old Janani, who has become a key activist in student sit-ins supporting the Tamil Tigers, all the while trying to reassure her many concerned uncles that she is still on track with her studies.

And Danielle, as her first year at university draws to an end, prepare with her friends to move into their first house - if only they can decide on who gets which room.

Peter White talks to the youngsters who contributed to the bid to stage the 2012 Olympics.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

050120100912

When Sebastian Coe presented London's bid for the 2012 Games at the IOC meeting in Singapore on July 6th 2005 he was flanked on the stage by the London teenagers. They were seen as crucial in helping secure victory over Paris - representing the sporting dreams of the nation and the rich cultural, ethnic and religious mix of the capital. Since then Peter White's been following them, their families and those who train alongside them.

This is a unique insight into youngsters from very diverse backgrounds who played such a crucial role in securing the Olympics and who are now making the transition from childhood to living independently, starting college, going to work, falling in and out of love and for some staking all on the hope of competing in 2012. Twenty year old athlete, Jessica Manning, who stopped competing in Heptathlons following her family's decision to move to Canada, helped lead the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Meanwhile eighteen year old Janani, a key activist in student sit-ins supporting the Tamil Tigers, achieved four A grades at A Levels. She is set to take up a place at University College London - if only her uncles can talk her out of her increasing allegiance to protest groups

Thomas Brown, a promising swimmer who narrowly missed out on competing in Beijing, is in family melt-down: not speaking to his Mum and living in a flat with his friend Jack. His excuses for missing training are getting ever more elaborate and Michelle, his coach, despairs of him ever making the Paralympic 2012 team.

Not so for the more committed Ellie, who has been selected to represent England in the Commonwealth Games. The image of her diving from the Thames Barrier was one of the most abiding in London's bid for 2012. Today she is equally committed to her sport - although her family now lives in Australia where 50 metre pools are in plentiful supply:

"When we did the London bid it was just like some random thing, but then I got off the train at Victoria and saw the shots of me on a massive billboard. Suddenly there were pictures of me all over the UK - I just never thought it would be that important.

"It was so exciting - we thought it would be so great for the Olympics to be in London. I was 14 and had always had the dream of going to the Olympics. Part of me was like, of great.I've got to do another eight years of swimming!

"We had a fast track team, it seems like years ago now, and a couple of us are still going at it. I got into swimming because my brother joined a club and I just tagged along, it wasn't anything I'd planned to do.

"I just stuck at it and progressed. I just love being in the water, I love how it feels. It feels free, it blocks out all of the noise and it's just a lovely feeling."

For Amber Charles the dream of Olympic competition is a step nearer thanks to a basketball scholarship to a prestigious American University. She is now able to combine studying for a psychology degree with playing for a college team - and as if that wasn't enough, she's also fallen in love!

"It has been the most amazing year of my life - going away from home and being so happy. I can't believe it's all happening like this and it seems unreal to come back to the UK for holidays. When I first went I missed friends in particular, but now I miss being in the States and can't wait for college to start again!".

Peter White tracks the lives of youngsters who contributed to London's 2012 Olympics bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

050220100919

When Sebastian Coe presented London's bid for the 2012 Games at the IOC meeting in Singapore on July 6th 2005 he was flanked on the stage by the London teenagers. They were seen as crucial in helping secure victory over Paris - representing the sporting dreams of the nation and the rich cultural, ethnic and religious mix of the capital. Since then Peter White's been following them, their families and those who train alongside them.

Peter White tracks the lives of youngsters who contributed to London's 2012 Olympics bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

060120110724When Sebastian Coe presented London's bid for the Games on the international stage in 2005 he was surrounded by 30 East End youngsters who represented the rich cultural diversity of their community. Faces of young sporting hopefuls appeared on billboards and the hopes and dreams they embodied became those of the nation. Radio 4's commitment to follow them has resulted in tremendous access to teenagers from very different backgrounds as they emerge into adulthood and deal with issues ranging from sporting successes and failures to romantic ones.

As 2012 draws near we hear from Ellie - the face of the London bid as she dived from the Thames Barrier. In earlier programmes we followed her family as they made the difficult decision to move to Australia, with its plentiful supply of 50 metre pools and access to top quality swim coaching. Now she's firmly on course to compete in 2012 and has her sights set on a gold medal.

By way of contrast Tom Brown - who proudly carried the torch through the streets of London - has experienced several setbacks on the road to swimming success. His parents have thrown him out of the family home and have reluctantly resorted to an injunction to stop him returning. He is living in a bed and breakfast hostel and he must soon undergo a kidney operation which could keep him out of the pool for several weeks.

Danielle still hopes to dance her way into the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony. The Singapore trip having shaped many of her experiences to date, so much so that she thinks the main reasons she's made the semi-finals of Miss England is due to the confidence she gained on that Singapore trip. Meanwhile Amber, who first presented London's Olympic bid to the IOC in Geneva in 2004, is honing her basketball skills at an American University. She received a full scholarship on the basis of her ability but since moving there she's fallen madly in love and is even thinking of marriage.

Peter White catches up these and the others who inspired London's Olympic bid, from Perry - currently coaching football in America, to Amy about to start on a football scholarship at an American college. There's Alex, who as a teenager dreamed of Olympic glory as he pounded the streets on his East London council estate and now pounds a punch bag as he trains in his new sport - boxing. And Ashley, the economics student with an eye on a future in banking and dreams of riches way in excess of anything imagined by his mother, who struggled to bring him up on her own.

Producer - Sue Mitchell.

Peter White continues to follow the East End teenagers who inspired London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

060220110731When Sebastian Coe presented London's bid for the Games on the international stage in 2005 he was surrounded by 30 East End youngsters who represented the rich cultural diversity of their community. Faces of young sporting hopefuls appeared on billboards and the hopes and dreams they embodied became those of the nation. Radio 4's commitment to follow them has resulted in tremendous access to teenagers from very different backgrounds as they emerge into adulthood and deal with issues ranging from sporting successes and failures to romantic ones.

As 2012 draws near we hear from Ellie - the face of the London bid as she dived from the Thames Barrier. In earlier programmes we followed her family as they made the difficult decision to move to Australia, with its plentiful supply of 50 metre pools and access to top quality swim coaching. Now she's firmly on course to compete in 2012 and has her sights set on a gold medal.

By way of contrast Tom Brown - who proudly carried the torch through the streets of London - has experienced several setbacks on the road to swimming success. His parents have thrown him out of the family home and have even secured an injunction to stop him returning. He is living in a bed and breakfast hostel and he must soon undergo a kidney operation which could keep him out of the pool for several weeks.

Danielle still hopes to dance her way into the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony. The Singapore trip having shaped many of her experiences to date, so much so that she thinks the main reasons she's made the semi-finals of Miss England is due to the confidence she gained on that Singapore trip. Meanwhile Amber, who first presented London's Olympic bid to the IOC in Geneva in 2004, is honing her basketball skills at an American University. She received a full scholarship on the basis of her ability but since moving there she's fallen madly in love and is even thinking of marriage.

Peter White catches up these and the others who inspired London's Olympic bid.

Producer: Sue Mitchell.

Peter White continues to follow the East End teenagers who inspired London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

070120120424Peter has followed them from their dramatic appearance alongside Sebastian Coe in Singapore, through their sporting triumphs and failures, GCSE's, A-levels and University courses, successful and unsuccessful love affairs, emigration, rows with parents, and in one case a brush with the police. As the games approach he finds out what has happened to them and those who live and train alongside them - from Ellie, the poster girl of the bid, who has now been selected for the British swim team, to Danielle, the dancer, who has been chosen to take part in the opening ceremony.

When Sebastian Coe presented London's bid for the Games to the IOC in 2005 he was flanked on the stage by 30 East End youngsters who represented the rich cultural diversity of their community. Faces of young sporting hopefuls appeared on billboards and the hopes and dreams they embodied became those of the nation. Radio 4's commitment to following their lives has resulted in tremendous access to youngsters from very different backgrounds as they emerge into adulthood and deal with issues ranging from romance to the direction they should take.

As 2012 draws near we hear from Ellie, pictured all those years ago as she dived from the Thames Barrier with the Olympic rings behind her. She moved to Australia, where better access to high quality training facilities, coupled with sheer dedication and talent, have helped her secure a place in the GB team: Its such a relief, I've been planning this for the last four years and it's amazing to be able to say I'm going to the Olympics. I've been building up to it, I've been training to it and I'm so excited to have made the team.

According to her Mum, Toni, the combined prayers or relatives, family and friends across two continents, coupled with years of hard work, helped realise a dream first captured with her place helping the bid, seven years ago: She's a London girl and she's made the London Olympics. Who would of thought when she was 12 and helped with the bid, that first of all London would get the Olympics and then that Ellie would make the team - it's like a fairy tale. For the little kids out there thinking I want to go to the Olympics, the message is that if you set your heart on something you can achieve it no matter how impossible it might seem.

Danielle will be dancing in the opening ceremony, her life having taken unexpected twists and turns - including the recent reconciliation of her parents, who originally divorced when she was just seven. Ashley has also experienced unforeseen developments - he lost his place on the third year of his economic degree course and Peter is alongside him as he copes with life on benefits. He has not, however, lost his commitment to the Olympics - once a promising 2012 prospect, injury put pay to his hopes of competing. He is now overseeing the Youth Ambassador scheme and encouraging youngsters to build on the 2012 opportunities, including funding and facilities: Its amazing to see the completion of this fantastic Olympic project.

Producer: Sue Mitchell.

Peter White catches up with the youngsters who helped secure the 2012 Olympics for London.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

070220120501For the past seven years, Peter White has been following the teenagers widely credited with being London's secret weapon when it unexpectedly succeeded in its bid to host the Games

Peter has followed these teenagers from their dramatic appearance alongside Sebastian Coe in Singapore, through their sporting triumphs and failures, GCSE's, A-levels and University courses, successful and unsuccessful love affairs, emigration, rows with parents, and in one case a brush with the police. As the games approach he finds out what has happened to them and those who live and train alongside them - from Ellie, the poster girl of the bid, who has now been selected for the British swim team, to Danielle, the dancer, who has been chosen to take part in the opening ceremony.

When Sebastian Coe presented London's bid for the Games to the IOC in 2005 he was flanked on the stage by 30 East End youngsters who represented the rich cultural diversity of their community. Faces of young sporting hopefuls appeared on billboards and the hopes and dreams they embodied became those of the nation. Radio 4's commitment to following their lives has resulted in tremendous access to youngsters from very different backgrounds as they emerge into adulthood and deal with issues ranging from romance to the direction they should take.

Peter White catches up with the youngsters who helped secure the 2012 Olympics for London.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

080120120730Peter White follows those who helped secure the Olympics for London and are now playing a key role in the games - from the swimmer with her hopes set on a gold medal and the discuss thrower who only took up the sport two years ago, to the torchbearer who started the flame's journey from Athens to London and the dancer performing at the opening ceremony.

The thirty youngsters who helped secure London's bid for the Games by appearing alongside Sebastian Coe in Singapore in 2005 have seen great changes in their lives. Since then Peter White has been following them, their families and those who live and train alongside them. Each fifteen minute programme focuses on one extraordinary story:

Danielle was chosen for the Singapore because of her dancing and she's underlined her passion for the Games by getting selected to perform in the opening ceremony. The Olympics has transformed the East End area she grew up in, but so has time itself - with her Mum and Dad now living under the same roof again after a fifteen year separation Danielle has just been selected as a finalist for the Miss England competition and is hoping that 2012 will prove a key year in many ways.

Ashley is the youth ambassador for his borough and is working to ensure a legacy from 2012 for those coming up behind him. His dreams of competing were put on hold through injury and after the Singapore trip he changed focus, immersing himself in politics and campaigning. He is joined in this programme by Alex, who capped his role in securing the 2012 Olympics with the honour of being the second person to carry the Olympic torch at the start of its journey from Athens to London.

Ellie was the face of the Olympic bid - the thirteen year old swimmer in a silver suit poised to dive from the Thames barrier. Now she's within reach of her target - an Olympic medal. She's just been selected for team GB and will be racing in the 100 and 200m butterfly - hoping that the huge home crowds will spur her on to victory. Her experiences in the Olympic village are mirrored by another Olympic swimmer, Mbeh, the London youngster picked to represent his home country, Cameroon.

Amber presented London's bid plans to the International Olympic Committee all those years ago. Since then her talent as a sportswoman has taken her to America on a scholarship. She now lives in Tennessee but hopes to be selected for team GB and has put her many other dreams - from modelling to motherhood - on hold. She is joined in this programme by Thomas, the talented Paralympic hopeful whose Olympic dreams fell by the wayside but who still hopes to find some role to fulfil in 2012.

Laurence has played a prominent role in sport across the capital but had thought it would be his rugby skills which would take him to international level. Two years ago he took up the discuss and so talented was he that he's on the brink of Olympic selection. According to his coach his physic is near perfect - at 6ft 6 he weighs close to 23 stone and the main thing standing in his way is how well he copes with the psychological pressures as this top sporting event approaches.

Peter White follows the youngsters who helped inspire London's bid for the Olympics.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

080220120731Peter White follows those who helped secure the Olympics for London and are now playing a key role in the games - from the swimmer with her hopes set on a gold medal and the discuss thrower who only took up the sport two years ago, to the torchbearer who started the flame's journey from Athens to London and the dancer performing at the opening ceremony.

The thirty youngsters who helped secure London's bid for the Games by appearing alongside Sebastian Coe in Singapore in 2005 have seen great changes in their lives. Since then Peter White has been following them, their families and those who live and train alongside them. Each fifteen minute programme focuses on one extraordinary story:

Danielle was chosen for the Singapore because of her dancing and she's underlined her passion for the Games by getting selected to perform in the opening ceremony. The Olympics has transformed the East End area she grew up in, but so has time itself - with her Mum and Dad now living under the same roof again after a fifteen year separation Danielle has just been selected as a finalist for the Miss England competition and is hoping that 2012 will prove a key year in many ways.

Ashley is the youth ambassador for his borough and is working to ensure a legacy from 2012 for those coming up behind him. His dreams of competing were put on hold through injury and after the Singapore trip he changed focus, immersing himself in politics and campaigning. He is joined in this programme by Alex, who capped his role in securing the 2012 Olympics with the honour of being the second person to carry the Olympic torch at the start of its journey from Athens to London.

Ellie was the face of the Olympic bid - the thirteen year old swimmer in a silver suit poised to dive from the Thames barrier. Now she's within reach of her target - an Olympic medal. She's just been selected for team GB and will be racing in the 100 and 200m butterfly - hoping that the huge home crowds will spur her on to victory. Her experiences in the Olympic village are mirrored by another Olympic swimmer, Mbeh, the London youngster picked to represent his home country, Cameroon.

Amber presented London's bid plans to the International Olympic Committee all those years ago. Since then her talent as a sportswoman has taken her to America on a scholarship. She now lives in Tennessee but hopes to be selected for team GB and has put her many other dreams - from modelling to motherhood - on hold. She is joined in this programme by Thomas, the talented Paralympic hopeful whose Olympic dreams fell by the wayside but who still hopes to find some role to fulfil in 2012.

Laurence has played a prominent role in sport across the capital but had thought it would be his rugby skills which would take him to international level. Two years ago he took up the discuss and so talented was he that he's on the brink of Olympic selection. According to his coach his physic is near perfect - at 6ft 6 he weighs close to 23 stone and the main thing standing in his way is how well he copes with the psychological pressures as this top sporting event approaches.

Peter White follows the youngsters who helped inspire London's bid for the Olympics.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

080320120801Peter White follows those who helped secure the Olympics for London and are now playing a key role in the games - from the swimmer with her hopes set on a gold medal and the discuss thrower who only took up the sport two years ago, to the torchbearer who started the flame's journey from Athens to London and the dancer performing at the opening ceremony.

The thirty youngsters who helped secure London's bid for the Games by appearing alongside Sebastian Coe in Singapore in 2005 have seen great changes in their lives. Since then Peter White has been following them, their families and those who live and train alongside them. Each fifteen minute programme focuses on one extraordinary story:

Danielle was chosen for the Singapore because of her dancing and she's underlined her passion for the Games by getting selected to perform in the opening ceremony. The Olympics has transformed the East End area she grew up in, but so has time itself - with her Mum and Dad now living under the same roof again after a fifteen year separation Danielle has just been selected as a finalist for the Miss England competition and is hoping that 2012 will prove a key year in many ways.

Ashley is the youth ambassador for his borough and is working to ensure a legacy from 2012 for those coming up behind him. His dreams of competing were put on hold through injury and after the Singapore trip he changed focus, immersing himself in politics and campaigning. He is joined in this programme by Alex, who capped his role in securing the 2012 Olympics with the honour of being the second person to carry the Olympic torch at the start of its journey from Athens to London.

Ellie was the face of the Olympic bid - the thirteen year old swimmer in a silver suit poised to dive from the Thames barrier. Now she's within reach of her target - an Olympic medal. She's just been selected for team GB and will be racing in the 100 and 200m butterfly - hoping that the huge home crowds will spur her on to victory. Her experiences in the Olympic village are mirrored by another Olympic swimmer, Mbeh, the London youngster picked to represent his home country, Cameroon.

Amber presented London's bid plans to the International Olympic Committee all those years ago. Since then her talent as a sportswoman has taken her to America on a scholarship. She now lives in Tennessee but hopes to be selected for team GB and has put her many other dreams - from modelling to motherhood - on hold. She is joined in this programme by Thomas, the talented Paralympic hopeful whose Olympic dreams fell by the wayside but who still hopes to find some role to fulfil in 2012.

Laurence has played a prominent role in sport across the capital but had thought it would be his rugby skills which would take him to international level. Two years ago he took up the discuss and so talented was he that he's on the brink of Olympic selection. According to his coach his physic is near perfect - at 6ft 6 he weighs close to 23 stone and the main thing standing in his way is how well he copes with the psychological pressures as this top sporting event approaches.

Peter White follows the youngsters who helped inspire London's bid for the Olympics.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

080420120802Peter White follows those who helped secure the Olympics for London and are now playing a key role in the games - from the swimmer with her hopes set on a gold medal and the discuss thrower who only took up the sport two years ago, to the torchbearer who started the flame's journey from Athens to London and the dancer performing at the opening ceremony.

The thirty youngsters who helped secure London's bid for the Games by appearing alongside Sebastian Coe in Singapore in 2005 have seen great changes in their lives. Since then Peter White has been following them, their families and those who live and train alongside them. Each fifteen minute programme focuses on one extraordinary story:

Danielle was chosen for the Singapore because of her dancing and she's underlined her passion for the Games by getting selected to perform in the opening ceremony. The Olympics has transformed the East End area she grew up in, but so has time itself - with her Mum and Dad now living under the same roof again after a fifteen year separation Danielle has just been selected as a finalist for the Miss England competition and is hoping that 2012 will prove a key year in many ways.

Ashley is the youth ambassador for his borough and is working to ensure a legacy from 2012 for those coming up behind him. His dreams of competing were put on hold through injury and after the Singapore trip he changed focus, immersing himself in politics and campaigning. He is joined in this programme by Alex, who capped his role in securing the 2012 Olympics with the honour of being the second person to carry the Olympic torch at the start of its journey from Athens to London.

Ellie was the face of the Olympic bid - the thirteen year old swimmer in a silver suit poised to dive from the Thames barrier. Now she's within reach of her target - an Olympic medal. She's just been selected for team GB and will be racing in the 100 and 200m butterfly - hoping that the huge home crowds will spur her on to victory. Her experiences in the Olympic village are mirrored by another Olympic swimmer, Mbeh, the London youngster picked to represent his home country, Cameroon.

Amber presented London's bid plans to the International Olympic Committee all those years ago. Since then her talent as a sportswoman has taken her to America on a scholarship. She now lives in Tennessee but hopes to be selected for team GB and has put her many other dreams - from modelling to motherhood - on hold. She is joined in this programme by Thomas, the talented Paralympic hopeful whose Olympic dreams fell by the wayside but who still hopes to find some role to fulfil in 2012.

Laurence has played a prominent role in sport across the capital but had thought it would be his rugby skills which would take him to international level. Two years ago he took up the discuss and so talented was he that he's on the brink of Olympic selection. According to his coach his physic is near perfect - at 6ft 6 he weighs close to 23 stone and the main thing standing in his way is how well he copes with the psychological pressures as this top sporting event approaches.

Peter White follows the youngsters who helped inspire London's bid for the Olympics.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

080520120803Peter White follows those who helped secure the Olympics for London and are now playing a key role in the games - from the swimmer with her hopes set on a gold medal and the discuss thrower who only took up the sport two years ago, to the torchbearer who started the flame's journey from Athens to London and the dancer performing at the opening ceremony.

The thirty youngsters who helped secure London's bid for the Games by appearing alongside Sebastian Coe in Singapore in 2005 have seen great changes in their lives. Since then Peter White has been following them, their families and those who live and train alongside them. Each fifteen minute programme focuses on one extraordinary story:

Danielle was chosen for the Singapore because of her dancing and she's underlined her passion for the Games by getting selected to perform in the opening ceremony. The Olympics has transformed the East End area she grew up in, but so has time itself - with her Mum and Dad now living under the same roof again after a fifteen year separation Danielle has just been selected as a finalist for the Miss England competition and is hoping that 2012 will prove a key year in many ways.

Ashley is the youth ambassador for his borough and is working to ensure a legacy from 2012 for those coming up behind him. His dreams of competing were put on hold through injury and after the Singapore trip he changed focus, immersing himself in politics and campaigning. He is joined in this programme by Alex, who capped his role in securing the 2012 Olympics with the honour of being the second person to carry the Olympic torch at the start of its journey from Athens to London.

Ellie was the face of the Olympic bid - the thirteen year old swimmer in a silver suit poised to dive from the Thames barrier. Now she's within reach of her target - an Olympic medal. She's just been selected for team GB and will be racing in the 100 and 200m butterfly - hoping that the huge home crowds will spur her on to victory. Her experiences in the Olympic village are mirrored by another Olympic swimmer, Mbeh, the London youngster picked to represent his home country, Cameroon.

Amber presented London's bid plans to the International Olympic Committee all those years ago. Since then her talent as a sportswoman has taken her to America on a scholarship. She now lives in Tennessee but hopes to be selected for team GB and has put her many other dreams - from modelling to motherhood - on hold. She is joined in this programme by Thomas, the talented Paralympic hopeful whose Olympic dreams fell by the wayside but who still hopes to find some role to fulfil in 2012.

Laurence has played a prominent role in sport across the capital but had thought it would be his rugby skills which would take him to international level. Two years ago he took up the discuss and so talented was he that he's on the brink of Olympic selection. According to his coach his physic is near perfect - at 6ft 6 he weighs close to 23 stone and the main thing standing in his way is how well he copes with the psychological pressures as this top sporting event approaches.

Peter White follows the youngsters who helped inspire London's bid for the Olympics.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

090120150705

The thirty youngsters have gone from school life in 2005 to futures involving marriage, jobs and mortgages. In these programme he gets them all together to hear about their lives now and to reflect on the part that the Singapore trip played in shaping what happened next.

Some of them are living oversees - Perry, for instance, who has married an American and now coach's football on the East Coast. Amber has just finished her degree at an American University and is applying for a Green Card whilst Jessica, the promising heptathlete with the potential to have made the Olympics, is happily married in Canada and working in a sports store.

There were some stand out stars amongst the group - Ashley Mitchell went form that Singapore trip with Sebastian Coe to work as the Junior Mayor in the Olympic Village. He has finished his degree and is helping on Tessa Jowell's bid to be Mayor of London. But being Ashley he also has several other plans on the go - a pop up restaurant, a few charity projects and some impromptu family tuition for younger cousins!

For Thomas Brown the London Games offered the hope of Paralympic selection. His dreams fell apart when he left home and moved into a homeless hostel. His life was on hold as he struggled with independent living and wrestled with the training needed to really go all the way. He has now reconciled with his parents and rents a house with his girlfriend.

Perhaps the biggest star of all is a schoolboy who showed such promise in rugby that he was offered the chance to concentrate on it full time. He opted instead for the discus and reached the finals in the 2012 Olympics. Lawrence Okoye is now playing American football for the San Francisco 49ers and has married his girlfriend Pippa. He was touted as a possible medal candidate come Rio 2016 but he loves the path he's chosen instead.

Ten years ago, 30 East End kids helped London secure the Olympics - where are they now?

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid

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In this programme Peter White meets up with Jessica Manning, a promising heptathalete picked for the Singapore trip because of her achievements on the track. She helped London unveil plans for an Olympics which placed youth legacy at its heart. But although she helped clinch the games, she did not carry on to participate herself. Her parents decided to move to Canada and a reluctant Jess followed them after her A Levels. Once there she struggled with the facilities and coaching team and eventually decided to swap athletics for greater involvement in the church.

It was a decision which has paid off when it comes to longer term happiness. It was in the church that she met Canadian broadcasting student, Conner, and after weeks of late night Skyping they finally started a relationships: "I knew in just a few weeks that he was the one. It was so quick, but we had spent so long getting to know each other before we went out. And then we started talking about kids and decided to get married. It all happened fast but we're really happy."

Peter also catches up with Lawrence Okoye, the rugby playing schoolboy who decided he wanted to turn his hand to the discuss and just two years later achieved a place in the Olympic final. Sporting commitments kept him away from Singapore, but in the run-up to 2012 Peter White followed him on an international training camp in America. Coaches there were convinced that only time stood in the way of him eventually setting a new world record, but almost straight after the London Games Lawrence made a surprising decision: opting for a career in American football and signing with the San Francisco 49ers. Not having played the game before, his first two years on the team have been a steep learning curve, but he's confident that his technique has improved to the extent where he can make a valuable contrbution when the next season begins.

Lawrence feels that the London Olympics placed the capital centre stage and has helped improve take up and participation in sport: "I just wish it came back again - it would be great if we could re-live it and it was definitely inspirational for young kids: if they had never seen some of these events they were prompted to try them and for those already involved in sport this showed what was possible. Hosting the Olympics has had a great impact on youth and the kids from that generation will be a golden generation in the future".

Peter White catches up with youngsters he first met in 2005 during London's Olympic bid.

Series following the youngsters who went to Singapore in support of London's Olympic bid