National Lottery Events Planned For Team GB Homecoming
Last Updated: Monday 19th July 2021, 11:38
Two National Lottery events will take place at Wembley’s SSE Arena this summer to celebrate Team GB’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The events will feature some of the UK’s biggest musical acts and are available exclusively to National Lottery players.
When will the events take place?
The first event will be held on Sunday 15th August, a week after the Tokyo Games come to an end. It will provide a homecoming for British Olympians and a chance for them to connect with fans for the first time in months.
Artists including Anne-Marie, Bastille, Griff, Laura Mvula and Rag’n’Bone Man have been lined up to perform, with broadcaster Clara Amfo set to host.
The second event will welcome Paralympians home and will happen on Sunday 12th September. The performers will be announced closer to the date.
They have been organised specially for both the fans and the athletes because of the exceptional circumstances surrounding this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics. Due to Coronavirus restrictions, there will be no domestic or foreign spectators at the Games and even the closing ceremonies will take place with no fans in the stadium.
These two events at Wembley will have fans present. Hundreds will go to key workers to show appreciation for their hard work during the pandemic, while 4,000 pairs of tickets will go to National Lottery players.
How do I get a ticket?
The 4,000 pairs of tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. To enter the ballot, you need to have a National Lottery ticket that has been purchased since 1st June. This ticket can be for any game - Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball, Set For Life, Lotto HotPicks or EuroMillions HotPicks - and can have been purchased online or in-store.
The ballot for the Olympians’ homecoming event is open now and closes on 29th July, while the ballot for the Paralympians’ event opens on 16th August. Once you have submitted a ticket, stand by to see if you have been successful. If you are lucky enough to be selected, you will be able to go to the event for free.
As well as the big-name musical acts, the two-hour show will also recall the best moments from the Tokyo Games.
Funding Has Transformed Team GB’s Fortunes
Team GB’s Olympic and Paralympic success in recent decades has been fuelled partly by National Lottery investment. Back in 1996, the team returned home from the Atlanta Olympics with just one gold medal. National Lottery funding for elite sport began the following year, and Team GB have since won 864 Olympic and Paralympic medals.
Over 1,000 athletes benefit from the funding, as it gives them access to top-class coaching, facilities and support and allows them to dedicate all of their time to the pursuit of Olympic honours.
The National Lottery raises money for good causes across a number of other sectors apart from sport, including the community, arts and heritage projects. More than £41 billion has been generated since the lottery was established in 1994, supporting more than 565,000 projects.
