Website of the UK government

Who needs to get accredited for the London 2012 Games?

The process of getting background checked and issued a pass to attend the Games in an official capacity is called 'accreditation'. Accreditation passes give accredited individuals special entry to the areas they need to access in the Olympic venues.

The number of people being accredited is limited to those who need essential access to Olympic and Paralympic venues.

Applying for accreditation

Your employer, National Olympic or Paralympic Committee, or the organisation you are volunteering for, will tell you if you need to be accredited.

If you do need to be accredited, they will ask you to complete an accreditation form. You'll need to give some basic personal information, for example, your name, address and date of birth.

What the accreditation process involves

Your accreditation form will be used to carry out background checks on you. Background checks including immigration, security and a criminal history check, will be carried out on everyone who applies for accreditation.

The Home Office is completing these checks on behalf of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). Once the background checks are complete, the Home Office will recommend that accreditation should be refused for anyone who may be a safety or security risk.

If you’d like to find out more about what the background checks involve, see the link below.

• London 2012 - background checks Opens new window

What happens if you’re refused accreditation?

If you are refused accreditation, you can apply to check that the information held on you is accurate by following the process below.

Find out more about what kind of data can be held about you from the Information commissioner:

http://www.ico.gov.ukTel: 0303 123 1113 (Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm)

Making a request to view data held about you

To make a request to see the data held about you, follow these three steps:

1. Supply proof of identity. Send photocopies of two official documents that between them clearly show your name, current postal address, date of birth and signature. For example, photocopies of your:

• birth certificate
• driving licence
• passport
• medical card
• bank statement
• utility bill
• rent agreement

It will speed up your application if one of your two documents is a photographic identity document, for example, your passport or driving licence. Please do not send original documents as they won’t be returned.

2. Include the fee. You can pay the £10 sterling fee by UK cheque, UK postal order or Banker’s Draft made payable to the Home Office. Do not send cash.

3. Send in your application. The £10 fee and proof of identity should be sent to:
2012 Games Accreditation Background Check
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4LN

You'll receive a letter sent to your current postal address within 40 days.

More useful links

• The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) Opens new window