THE families of children who were promised a "major" role in the Olympics due to their special birth date have expressed disappointment at their lack of involvement in the Games.

Every youngster born in 2004 on December 20 - 20.12 - was told they would be at the forefront of celebrations if London was successful in winning its bid to host the Games.

But seven years later families have accused organisers of breaking their promise, sneakily changing the wording on their website and forgetting about the generation of "special" children.

Single mum Jill Lainchbury, 46, of Shakespeare Road in Walthamstow, said her son Harrison had become very excited about his perceived key role.

But they have just found out his involvement will be limited to standing on a stage when the torch relay comes to Waltham Forest Town Hall on Saturday July 21.

She said: "I don't want to seem ungrateful, but when you've been telling your son as he's been growing up that he will have a 'major' role it is very disheartening.

"We didn't ask for this - they offered and promised all these things which raised our hopes and expectations.

"Every year my son gets a Christmas and birthday card from Lord Coe and he's been really excited about the Olympics.

"But in the last few years the correspondence and letters have stopped - it's almost as if they changed their minds.

"They said he would have a major role in a ceremony and things like that.

“But the Olympics organisers obviously decided it would be better publicity to use groups of schoolchildren for the opening ceremony, rather than these kids who they made these promises to."

She added: "Most people haven't even heard of these 'promise children', it is disappointing."

A total of 80 disappointed parents from across the UK have joined a Facebook group protesting about the lack of involvement.

They were offered free tickets to the opening ceremony of the Paralympics when the press began to cover their complaints last year.

Despite the concession organisers insist they did not mislead families.

A spokesman for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) said: "We have always been clear that the Children’s Promise children will be given a role in one of the ceremonies or events which will take place as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

"The majority of the parents are delighted to be part of these exciting events and we have received a lot of positive feedback."

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