Calling for Great Britons

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be the best and you dream of visiting a place that could change your career, you could be a British Airways Great Briton

To celebrate the start of The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in less than 1,000 days, British Airways, the official airline partner of the London 2012 Games, has launched a programme for excellence called Great Britons.

The judges are looking for talented people who demonstrate the values associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Games in categories such as sport, performing arts, community, fashion, innovation, and art and design. Only people who are determined, competitive and courageous enough to follow their dreams will win the free flights to BA destinations and a pack including a Panasonic camcorder.

“It’s important that an iconic brand like British Airways is doing something to draw out people’s passions and inspire them,” says heptathlete Denise Lewis (pictured left), who won a gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Games and is one of the Great Britons judges. “Everyone deserves an opportunity to strive for their goals and be the best they can.”

TELL US YOUR STORY

To enter the Great Britons competition, click on the ‘How to Apply’ section at www.greatbritons.ba.com and tell us about your past experiences in no more than 2,000 characters. Then tell us how winning would change your life, also in no more than 2,000 characters. The more concise and poignant you are, the more you’re likely to get the support of the judges and voting public, so try to use punchy, powerful language and be clear about what you do and what you want to achieve.

GET IT RIGHT

Once you’ve applied, you can’t edit your story, so it’s essential that you get it right at this stage. We want to know about your goals, highs and lows and any obstacles you've had to overcome.

FOCUS ON FLIGHTS

Tell us the destination you dream of flying to and how going there would change your life and career. Your destination has to be somewhere that British Airways flies to, but you don’t have to restrict yourself to just one flight. Both individuals and groups can apply for flights.

ILLUSTRATE YOUR STORY

You can upload content, such as images, to support your application and show us what you’re capable of. These can be up to three music clips, one piece of video footage, five pictures and one block of text. Make sure you only upload content that brings your story to life and has maximum impact.

PERFECT YOUR APPLICATION

You can save your application and come back to it to upload more content (within the permitted amount) later, but you can’t make changes once it's been submitted, so make sure you're happy with what you upload and do yourself justice.

AFTER YOU APPLY

Once you’ve applied and uploaded your files, you’ll be showcased on the Great Britons website, where the public can comment on your application. Every two months, the judges shortlist the best applicants, then the public votes for the winners.