Over one million Olympic and Paralympic ticketholders are being given the opportunity to discover the stories behind the sports on show and also find out how they can play the sports themselves.

Anyone who has purchased a ticket for London 2012 will receive a series of newsletters signposting them to www.thegamesandbeyond.com - a website that is open to everyone and packed full of need-to-know information, exciting Games news and guides to help people take part in each sport.

The Games and Beyond is part of Sport England’s London 2012 legacy programme which aims to build on the excitement of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games to increase sporting participation across the country.

Jennie Price, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said: “London 2012 will offer over a million people the opportunity to enjoy the drama of watching live competition, learn more about the events and be inspired to go out and play sport.

"With the help of The Games and Beyond, every Olympic and Paralympic spectator will be able to become a participant and discover a sport that they enjoy playing, ensuring that the excitement of London 2012 is sustained to create a lasting legacy.”

The Games and Beyond has been developed by Sport England in partnership with all of the national governing bodies of Olympic and Paralympic sports and is supported by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

Chris Townsend, Commercial Director at LOCOG, said: “We have had an unprecedented level of interest in tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it shows that the British public want to be part of London 2012. We hope that The Games and Beyond will not only help people understand the sports that they are going to watch but also try out the sports for themselves.”

Even if you do not have tickets to the Games you can still view the website and find out how you can take up an Olympic or Paralympic sport, just visit www.thegamesandbeyond.com or follow @GamesAndBeyond on twitter.

The centre will give those injured in the line of duty the confidence and self-esteem to get back into civilian life or return to active duty. Adaptive sport and adventurous training activities under the direction of world-class coaches, principally from the Carnegie Faculty at Leeds Metropolitan University, will be offered at Lilleshall’s state-of-the-art sporting facilities, where many of the country’s top athletes train.

The MoD will provide staff for the centre, while the running of the centre will be funded by The Royal British Legion, which is celebrating its 90th Anniversary in 2011.

Chris Simpkins, Director General, The Royal British Legion, said: “The Battle Back Centre at Lilleshall, which is supported by The Royal British Legion, is a key part of our support for the ‘Afghan generation’ of the Armed Forces, many of whom are returning from conflict with life-changing injuries. The Centre is about helping them to focus on what they can do, rather than what they can’t, and helping them to rebuild their confidence and create a positive future for themselves. The Legion will be with them all the way.”

“Battle Back is an Adaptive Sport and Adventurous Training programme for wounded, injured and sick personnel from across the Armed Forces,” said Lieutenant Colonel Giles Stibbe, the Battle Back Centre’s Commanding Officer. “Battle Back programmes are designed to promote confidence and independence and help accelerate physical, psychological and social recovery inspiring the wounded, injured and sick to focus on those things that they are able to achieve. Battle Back is an MoD initiative delivered in partnership with Help 4 Heroes and The Royal British Legion.”

The project has received strong backing from the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, who himself saw active duty. He said: “Sport can play an integral part in the recovery process for our servicemen and women who have been injured on active service. I am delighted that a new Battle Back Centre is to be opened next year at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre which will further cement the strong links between sport and the armed services.”

Sport England is supporting the creation of a specialist accommodation block by transforming an existing building at Lilleshall. Chair Richard Lewis, said: “We are very pleased to be working with the Ministry of Defence and The Royal British Legion to create the Battle Back Centre at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Hundreds of wounded personnel will benefit every year from the facilities at Lilleshall as part of their recovery, in the same inspiring environment as many of our top sportsmen and women.”

The facility is expected to open fully in the Spring of 2012.

On 1 April 2012, Gold Challenge participants will have the chance to run the 100m or the 4 x 100m in the Olympic Stadium watched by friends, family and a cheering crowd of 20,000.

They will be among the first people in the world to run on the track that will see the stars of Team GB and Paralympics GB compete against the world’s best at next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Gold Challenge is an independent initiative that aims to motivate over 100,000 people to test themselves in multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports, and in doing so raise millions of pounds to charity.

“We’re proud to be working with Gold Challenge to motivate people to get involved in sport,” said Richard Lewis, Sport England’s Chair. “The chance to run in the Olympic Stadium will be both a powerful incentive to take up a challenge and a great reward for everyone who has raised money for charity through Gold Challenge.”

Supported by Team GB, the Gold Challenge event will be a unique thank you to people who have been inspired by London 2012 to get active and raise money for one of Gold Challenge’s 150 charity partners. It will also mark an important step for the Olympic Stadium as the event will test crucial aspects of the venue and operations ahead of next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I’m pleased that Gold Challenge has been selected as a test event ahead of London 2012, said Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics. “What greater incentive for people to get involved than an opportunity to run on the track in the iconic Olympic Stadium for charity.”

The event will also include the Gold Challenge Parade, with several thousand children and adults walking the official Opening Ceremony route.

“I am thrilled that Gold Challenge is hosting this important event in the lead up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Dan Thompson, Gold Challenge Executive Chairman and Founder. “What greater inspiration to take up a challenge and raise money for charity than a chance to go to the Olympic Stadium.”

With thousands of places up for grabs, securing a place is as simple as being fully registered for the Gold Challenge - selecting one of the challenges, a charity and a fundraising target. The highest fundraisers by 29 February 2011 will be guaranteed a place in the event, while the remaining places will be distributed by ballot and to a number of schools.

To find out more about the event and/span> how you could secure a place, visit http://goldchallenge.org/stadium