The countdown is on towards another fantastic celebration of sport when the Paralympic Games open on August 29 and that will be mirrored by a programme of participation in Charnwood.

Up and coming sprinters from across the city will be taking part in the grand final tonight of a scheme to help discover future Olympic talent.

Saffron Lane Sports Centre will host the thrills and spills of sprinting as 70 runners of all ages take part in a series of 60-metre races, on Wednesday, August 29, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Ten thousand people gathered in the streets of Leicester City Centre on Saturday (25th August) to welcome the Paralympic Flame. Swimmer Paige Murray had the honour of carrying the Paralympic flame ahead of a parade of dancers, drummers and athletes which wound its way through streets lined with thousands of onlookers.

Two local rising stars of British cycling will be taking time out of their busy, title-winning schedule to join the thousands of cyclists expected at Sky Ride Leicester on Sunday (Aug 26).

Cycling sisters Lucy and Grace Garner will be among invited guests leading a mass start of the event on Abbey Park at 10am.

Youngsters inspired by the Olympic achievements of Team GB's cycling stars can get a taste of competitive bike riding at the Go-Ride Games this weekend. The event - which take place at Western Park on Saturday (Aug 25) from 11am - will give cyclists aged 16-years or under the chance to take part in short-course cross country races and time trials, with advice and support from qualified coaches.

Leicester will have the great honour of being the only place in the East Midlands and one of only 33 nationally to host a Flame Celebration this Saturday as part of the Paralympic Torch Relay.

Three new neighbourhood cycling routes are being launched in Leicester to help more people discover the benefits of riding a bike.

Young people in Blaby district had the chance of winning a gold medal of their own when they took part in the Olympic Treasure Hunt at Bouskell Park on Wednesday August 8. Over 250 residents attended the event organised by Blaby District Council's Health and Recreation team, which involved finding eight Olympic themed sports with the aid of a map and clues hidden around the park.

An independent film capturing the life story of one of our medal hopes for the London 2012 Paralympic Games is to be shown on Channel 4 on Saturday 18th and Tuesday 28th August. BEN – a film by Dr John Edwards, a Senior Lecturer at Loughborough University, follows the story of sprinter Ben Rushgrove who won a silver medal in the T36 100 metres at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, just three weeks after breaking his foot.

David Beckham has starred in a new television campaign to mark Sainsbury's sponsorship of the London 2012 Paralympics, which are due to open later this month.