A NEW website has been launched to celebrate Suffolk's Olympic and Paralympic heritage in the run-up to the 2012 games.

A NEW website has been launched to celebrate Suffolk's Olympic and Paralympic heritage in the run-up to the 2012 games.

Part of the aim of the project is to create a sense of pride and excitement as the county - which will provide training facilities for many sports - gears up to the competition in London.

Called Lap of Honour, the programme is managed by Suffolk Artlink for Suffolk County Council, and focuses on competitors and supporters currently in Suffolk who have taken part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games and also those who may be competing in the games in two years' time.

“Involving and training volunteers from the Suffolk community means the stories of these remarkable people and their decades of involvement in the games will be recorded so that future generations of Suffolk competitors, officials and trainers will be able to learn from them,” said a spokesman for the project, launched at BT's Adastral Park, Martlesham.

Among those Olympians whose stories are told in initial videos on the website - www.suffolklapofhonour.org.uk - are runner Stan Cox, swimmer Karen Pickering, sailor Kevin Curtis, and hockey players Sandie Lister and Vicky Dixon.

The project also aims to become an educational, historical and cultural resource.

“As well as a website, filmed interviews and audio recordings will be available through podcasts, local BBC radio and television broadcasts, education packages, and a countywide touring exhibition,” said the spokesman.

“The exhibition and training will take place in public places in Suffolk including rural museums, record offices, sport centres, libraries, schools, colleges and University Campus Suffolk.”