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SCRATCHCARD CASH BOOST FOR OLYMPICS

A new lottery scratchcard will raise money for the London 2012 Games

Tuesday May 27,2008

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Presenter Holly Willoughby and some of Britain's best medal hopes launched a new lottery scratchcard to raise money for the London 2012 Games.

The Dancing On Ice star, famed for her daring outfits on the skating show, donned a glamorous Grecian-style dress and was supported by Beijing Olympic hopefuls cyclist Chris Hoy, sprinter Jason Gardener, rower Ed Coode and swimmer Mark Foster.

Punters now have the chance of winning a million pound top prize in the £5 Go for Gold game - the 44th National Lottery scratchcard sold to support London 2012.

There are 14 chances of winning on each holographic foil-covered ticket, with overall odds of around one in four of winning an instant cash prize - ranging from £5 to four top prizes of £1 million.

Ms Willoughby said: "It is a real thrill to join such a fantastic line-up of sporting heroes to launch Go For Gold.

"Hopefully it'll be a golden summer not just for British sport, but also for a lucky winner or winners of the £1 million top prize on Go For Gold."

Chris Hoy said: "Following the handover from Beijing, the focus of the world will turn to London. Having a chance to compete in an Olympic Games on your home soil is something that all athletes dream of.

"Thanks to lottery players and the National Lottery funding that is contributing towards the Games' infrastructure, for many of our young sportsmen and women, this is a dream that they can realise in 2012."

National Lottery funding will contribute almost £2.2 billion to the public funding package for the London 2012 Olympics, of which £750 million will come from specially-designated lottery games.

All the good causes money raised from sales of these designated games will go towards funding the provision of facilities and supporting infrastructure for the 2012 Games.

SCRATCHCARD JUST A VOLUNTARY TAX

27.05.08, 10:23pm

Let's call this latest lottery scratchcard wheeze by its real name: a voluntary tax aimed at the gullible and greedy. The projected cost for the 2012 London Olympics has spiralled from around £3 million, to £10, or even £12 million. A great deal of that is doubtless being siphoned off by those charged with ensuring the event comes in on time and are involved in some way with its construction. Listen! You can almost hear the squeals of those porkers as they jostle for top spot at the trough. And if it goes against all odds and actually passes off smoothly, the country will wake up to find that it's now host to another half million visitors, who simply forgot to return to their respective homelands.

• Posted by: Adanac • Report Comment