Elbow to record BBC’s 2012 Olympic soundtrack

English rock band Elbow are to record the BBC’s soundtrack for the London 2012 Olympic Games, it has been announced.

The band, who won the Mercury Music Prize in 2008 for their album The Seldom Seen Kid, have composed a six-minute specially-commissioned track.

“We are knocked out to be involved and it’s been quite a challenge,” said Lead singer Guy Garvey.

“We have feelings of real responsibility as we will be the soundtrack to so many images of personal sacrifice and endeavour while the nation roots for and celebrates with Team GB.”

The BBC’s Director of London 2012 Roger Mosey said: “This builds on our recent tradition of using great British contemporary artists to deliver our music, as we did with Damon Albarn in 2008; and we reckon Elbow have a unique combination of credibility – hence their Mercury Prize – with a style that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.”

For the Beijing 2008 games the BBC used this track performed by Damon Albarn’s group Gorillaz: