Celebrating London 2012

Winning Words is working with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to intergrate both temporary and permanent poetry installations in the Olympic Park.

New Olympic commissions

bicycle images on wooden boxAs part of the launch of Winning Words,Forward Arts Foundation along with the Olympic Delivery Authority, announced series of commissions for the Olympic Park.

The first commissioned poem for the Olympic Park permanent commissions is written by poet Lemn Sissay; entitled Spark Catchers, the work was inspired by the history of the site and tells the story of the Bryant and May match factory at the edge of the Olympic Park. Spark Catchers will be etched into a wooden structure in the north of the Park which houses one of the main electricity transformers. Other famed poets including Jo Shapcott, Caroline Bird and John Burnside, have also been commissioned for poetry in the Park, drawing on inspiration from the Suffragettes, cyclists and swimmers.

“Winning Words will carpet the nation in poetry, comments Founder of the Forward Arts Foundation and Winning Words, William Sieghart, “showing poetry as a valuable part of our national life and a great way to enjoy and celebrate the exciting moment of the 2012 Games.”

See our Celebrating London 2012 page for more

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  • Sarahjb45

    Interesting. Will there be opportunities for lesser known poets to contribute?

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  • Erika Bourne

    Isn’t it wonderful when your great grandmother’s word are used nearly 40 years after her death to inspire poetry!