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It was a great idea during the bid, promising babies born on the 20/12/2004 a "major role" at the Olympics. Good soundbite, good headline.

It fitted in perfectly with the bid's pledge to make the 2012 Olympics the Games for the next generation.

But as we get closer to the opening ceremony, that promise appears to be being watered down.

When the 2004 babies celebrated their first birthday, London 2012 in the "opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies, team welcome ceremonies or a wide range of events that will light up London's parks, squares and cultural venues across the capital."

That's what the press release said anyway.

Former Olympic champion and 2012 ambassador Denise Lewis appeared at a cute photocall with the babies.

The former heptathlete talked about how it would be great to use hundreds of them at the opening ceremony because you needed loads of kids and it was a great way to pick them.

Now, I'm a great fan of Denise, especially after I travelled with her to India 18 months ago where she was a brilliant ambassador for 2012's campaign to get more children into sport.

It must be embarrassing for her now that 2012 have told the mothers of the babies in April that they won't be involved in the ceremonies at all.

Olympic officials say they will now appear at events around the country linked to the torch relay.

The mothers say they are disappointed and have now started up a petition to get the children, now six and a half, into the opening ceremony.

We arranged a picnic for some of the them on the edge of the Olympic Park last week.

Many of the mums are angry that their children have been treated like this. As one said: "If you make a promise to a child, you have to keep it."

2012 officials say they were never promised the ceremonies for definite and deny that they have gone back on what they called the "Children's Promise."

I'm not so sure they can get away with that argument. It's true that they wrote a clause clearly in the paperwork.

The promise certificate to each child said: "to play a role in the ceremonies or events scheduled to take place as part of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012."

But, when you are talking to children, you have to be extra careful what you promise.

I've had to in recent weeks over Olympic tickets.

I never promised my children the 100 metres final because I knew I couldn't necessarily deliver it. And, of course, I couldn't.

Maybe 2012 should learn that lesson.

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