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The 70,000 volunteers – known as the Games Makers – who gave up their time to welcome the world to London and deliver the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, have been recognised in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Awards.
The Games Makers were included in a special award paying tribute to 60 organisations that have used volunteering to change Britain for the better during the Queen's reign.
Children's charities, healthcare bodies and organisations involved in the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games were among those recognised in The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012.
Martyn Lewis, chairman of the committee that decided the winners, said:
"The 60 organisations honoured today with The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award for Volunteering 2012 have built their success on the dedication and generosity of thousands of extraordinary people, each of whom has devoted their time and energy to the simple aim of making their communities – and their country – a better place."
Working across the Games, in competition venues, and at key Games support sites and behind the scenes, the Games Makers performed a wide variety of roles, and became the face of the Games and the face of the United Kingdom, drawing universal praise from visitors and athletes alike for their friendly, knowledgeable and upbeat style.
From staffing information, arrival, transport and technology desks at key sites and locations, to helping out on the fields of play at the sporting competitions, checking tickets or working in medical services team, the Games Makers were essential to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said the volunteers embodied the values of the Games, and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 would help to officially recognise the spirit of generosity and selfless service and dedication of volunteers across all sectors of British society, including the Games Makers.
“Like everyone, we are tremendously proud of the volunteers who play such a vital role in British society. The volunteers really are the unsung heroes of communities across the UK, and were fundamental to the success of the Games this Summer.
The determination of the Games Makers to do something special for their city and country, and for the athletes of the UK and the world, helped to make the Games an unforgettable experience for everyone who was at the Games in 2012, and they continue to inspire us all.”
LONDON 2012
