It’s official – there’s only one year to go until the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when the globe’s biggest sporting event descends on our city leaving a truly lasting legacy.

The London Borough of Hounslow will be playing its part at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, getting involved in a variety of planning, hospitality and leisure opportunities. Over half a million extra visitors are expected to the capital in 2012, with Hounslow providing the gateway from Heathrow Airport to the Olympic Park and other sporting locations during the summer. Hounslow was recently voted London’s ‘Transport Borough of the Year’ at the London Transport Awards 2011 for its superb transport links to the rest of London and beyond.

Hounslow’s status as the first biking borough in outer London means residents will be keeping a keen eye on the cycling events, especially after Great Britain captured fourteen cycling medals (eight gold, four silver and two bronze) at the Beijing Games in 2008 to top the medals table.

As an area with a fine tradition of rowing that plays host to the finish of the world famous Oxford and Cambridge University Boat race at Chiswick Bridge, Hounslow will also be cheering on Team GB at the rowing events taking place at London 2012. Great Britain once again topped the medals tables at the 2008 Games, with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals, and the borough’s heritage on the water will hopefully once more pay dividends with a host of medals at next year’s games.

In preparation for the games, last week Hounslow Council briefed local businesses at the Civic Centre on a range of issues such as how to plan for disruptions which may affect operations, as well as maximising the opportunities London 2012 brings to the borough. Many of Hounslow Council's partners attended, with presentations from TfL and Richard Sumray, chair of the London 2012 Forum.

Cllr Ruth Cadbury, Hounslow Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for the Olympics said:

“We are all tremendously excited at the news that there is less than a year to go before the start of London 2012.

“As well as experiencing the joy of having the world’s biggest sporting event right on our doorstep, the games provide the borough with huge opportunities in business and commerce. We provide the gateway to the rest of London and have been working with local businesses to help them realise their potential over the next year in preparation for the games.

"We have a variety of legacy planning events taking place over the next year and beyond, and our schools and arts centres will also be getting involved heavily with the celebrations at an unprecedented time for our city.

"Watch this space over the next year for how to get involved with London 2012."

For more information on what Hounslow Council is planning in the run up to London 2012, please visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/olympics