By Tom Degun in London

July 22 - The National Lottery today launched a London 2012 Games hot air balloon from the heart of the Olympic Park with canoeing gold medallist Tim Brabants, gymnastics bronze medallist Louis Smith and 400 metres hurdles bronze medallist Tasha Danvers onboard for its first tethered flight.



The hot air balloon will now visit some of the major cities in the UK giving members of the public the chance to fly in the balloon while being accompanied by elite athletes.

The hot air balloon is going on tour to thank Lottery players across Britain for their contribution to London 2012 and to highlight the role that people from across the UK will play in helping to host the world’s greatest sporting event. 

More than £25 million ($40 million) a week is raised by Lottery players for various projects across the UK while the National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2 billion ($3.5 billion) to fund the infrastructure and the venues for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
 
Brabants told insidethegames: "It’s a very unique opportunity to go up in a hot air balloon in the Olympic Park and it is fitting that it should be in a National Lottery hot air balloon because Lottery players are making a vital contribution to both athletes like me and the development of the London 2012 venues and their legacy.

"This hot air balloon is just one way of celebrating their support of the world’s largest sporting event coming to the UK."

Peter Keen, Director of Performance at UK Sport, added: "Lottery funding has changed the face of sport in the UK and has contributed to a total of 438 Olympic and Paralympic medals for Great Britain since 1997.

"The hot air balloon tour is a great way for the public to meet local elite athletes and for those athletes to be able to thank Lottery players for their support."

The balloon will visit Birmingham on July 27, Manchester on August 16, Cardiff on September 14 and Sheffield on September 28 in its last appearance of the year.

It is scheduled to visit further cities in 2011 and 2012.

The National Lottery also announced today over £1.1 milliom ($1.7 million) of funding to two programmes focused on communities in the five Olympic Host Boroughs.

"In the Parks" is a three year project aimed at increasing long term participation in sport across the Boroughs and "Represent London" is a three year employability and volunteering project for young people.

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