Tarleton Olympic volunteer sets sights on Christmas number one with Games Makers Choir

Dec 13 2012 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

AN OLYMPICS volunteer who joined the helpers’ choir formed during the London 2012 Games is hoping to cap a remarkable year with a Christmas number one.

Katie Dicker spent an amazing few weeks as one of 70,000 volunteers donating their time to help out at the Olympic Games this summer.

In her second week at the Olympic Park, the 20-year-old student joined a choir made up of fellow Games Makers – the name for the Olympic volunteers – who sang during the event and continued performing afterwards.

Following the games, singer- songwriter Alistair Griffin approached the choir to record a charity song with him themed around the event.

Katie, from Tarleton, was one of 30 choir members chosen to be involved in the project, and the group was signed to Decca, the label behind last year’s Military Wives Choir Christmas number one.

Their Olympic single – I Wish For You The World – is now set to be released this weekend in a bid to secure the Christmas number one.

The former Tarleton Community primary and Tarleton Academy pupil said: “The Olympics was the most amazing experience of my entire life. I got to see Mo Farah win the 10,000m, high-fived (Paralympian) Ellie Simmonds and spent my time as a volunteer coming up with games to play with people outside the stadium – such as getting people to race to a finishing line made out of toilet roll.

“I joined the choir as a bit of fun with other Games Makers.

“I’ve not really sung before and never expected anything like this to come of it, it’s just unbelievable. We got to record the single in Angel Studios, where people like Adele have recorded.

“Proceeds from the single are being donated to the British Olympic Foundation and British Paralympic Association to develop opportunities for aspiring young people in pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic dreams, which is amazing to be part of.

“Everyone is really excited, there’s some fantastic charity singles coming out for Christmas, so even if it’s top 20 or top 40 I’ll be really proud.”

The single had its first airplay on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on December 7 and has been backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson and Olympic rowing hero Katherine Grainger, who offered to lend her vocals.

And Katie, who is now in her third year studying law at Liverpool University, said: “I’m so glad I volunteered for the Olympics, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

“This is a great song and a fantastic way to mark my Olympic experience that I will never forget.”

I Wish For You The World is available to download from December 16.