Pubs needed for Olympic effort

Pubs are being urged to do their bit to help tourists feel at home when the Olympic Games roll into town in 2012.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has already started recruiting ambassadors to greet the hundreds of thousands of visitors set to arrive in the UK for the Olympics and Paralympics.

And London hostelries are to be key a recruiting ground with Johnson looking for locals to help guide visitors to key attractions - and pubs.

To support the bid pubs are being encouraged to take part in a poster campaign calling on customers to get involved.

Martin Rawlings, British Beer & Pub Association director or pub and leisure, said: "London 2012 is a huge opportunity - and huge numbers of Olympic volunteers are needed.

"Pubs are full of people who would be great ambassadors for Britain. Any help pubs can give in helping to recruit volunteers for the London ambassadors scheme would be a great boost to London's Olympic preparations."

Licensees are also keen to cash in on the Olympics with thousands of potential customers arriving in the city.

Danny Scott is licensee of Ricks Bar in Greenwich, which will be home to the equestrian event during the games. The gymnastics will also be taking place at the nearby O2 arena.

He said: "It sounds like a good idea to get ambassadors from pubs and we will encourage anything that could help business.

"With so many people coming we hope it will give business a boost but we though that about the Millennium Dome when it opened so we will have to wait and see."

Volunteers from outside the capital can also take part in the ambassadors programme. For more information visit www.londonambassadors.org.uk ​