英语文摘：London 2012 launches Open Weekend

LONDON, July 23 (Xinhua) -- London 2012 launched the start of London 2012 Open Weekend, 23rd-25th July with the theme of "challenge yourself" and more than 900 events taking place across Britain.

As part of the Cultural Olympiad initiative, where organizations have set public challenges at each of their events, creating an opportunity for everyone across Britain to set a new personal best by trying something new or taking an existing interest to the next level.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said: "Open Weekend will lead the nation into the two year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games with new personal bests being set right across the UK. Open Weekend 2010 is another opportunity for thousands of people to join in with the London 2012 Games."

The London 2012 Open Weekend give people access to a range of opportunities including Passport to Pingland table tennis events in London, building your own boat in Wales; bringing a giant kettle to boil via music in Milton Keynes, bicycle ballet in Manchester; running a leg in a three-kilometer relay race in Walsall; making your own stone sundial in Souter and talent contests in Norfolk.

Open Weekend will take place every year until the start of the London 2012 Games. In the past two previous years, over a million people across Britain unleashed their creativity across a series of sporting, art and cultural activities during the Open Weekend.