LONDON, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Athletes taking part in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will have access to free copies of the Bible and Scripture portions, thanks to an initiative by Bible Society.

The Sports Good News Bible

According to a More Than Gold press release there will be around 3,000 copies of commemorative English-language Scriptures available as a welcome gift in the Olympic Village Religious Services Centre. There will also be nearly 1,000 copies of Bibles and New Testaments available in a variety of other languages through partnerships with national Bible Societies around the globe.

The press release added the Bibles provided in English will be ‘The Sports Good News Bible’ and ‘The Sports Good News Gospel of Luke’. Both contain specially commissioned articles written to help sportspeople consider the relationships between sport and faith.

David Willson More Than Gold CEO

‘At past Olympics and other major sports events I’ve seen athletes deeply grateful for the free gift of a Bible. Bible Society are to be highly commended for their support in making such gifts possible,’ said David Willson, CEO of More Than Gold

In order to meet the anticipated demand, Bible Society has launched a special appeal as part of its ‘Bible: Body & Soul’ initiative for 2012. Those wishing to give in support of this initiative should go to www.biblesociety.org.uk/2012

Matthew van Duyvenbode, Head of Advocacy at Bible Society says: ‘The Bible offers words of deep consolation, inspiration and challenge, themes which resonate with athletes from around the world. Having the opportunity to offer the scriptures in a format accessible for sports people is a strong statement that the Bible belongs at the heart of every aspect of life.’

Bible Society Group Chief Executive, James Catford, said, ‘The achievements we gain on the outside are driven by the people we are on the inside – that’s what we discover in the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus written by Luke and found within the Christian Scriptures.’

Peter Wooding is an award-winning TV, radio and print journalist and media consultant under the name of Peter Wooding Productions (www.peterwoodingproductions.com). Having previously spent 10 years as news editor with UCB Radio in the UK, he has travelled extensively reporting from countries including Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Dubai, South Korea, Zambia, Gambia, Mozambique, Croatia, Israel and India. He now reports regularly for CBN News, ASSIST News Service, GDOP London, Russian Ministries, Whispering Word and Sorted Magazine. Peter and wife Sharon live in North Wales, UK with their three children. Passionate to see God’s Justice and Mercy impact lives, Peter is director of a new UK ministry Mercy Projects International (www.mercyproject.org.uk) to help at-risk young people in Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Kosovo, the Middle East and beyond. Contact Peter for consultation at: peter@peterwoodingproductions.com or tel. +44 1244 549167/+44 7500 903067