Full coverage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is to be shown on Plymouth city centre's Big Screen.

The celebrations will kick off in May as the Olympic Torch begins its journey across the UK, leaving Land's End and arriving in Plymouth on May 19, when it will be paraded through the city.

Full coverage of the London 2012 Olympics will begin with the opening ceremony on Friday, July 27, and continue through to September 9, when the Paralympics come to an end.

Councillor Vivien Pengelly, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "The 2012 Olympic Games coming to Britain is hugely exciting, and I am thrilled that people in Plymouth who haven't managed to get tickets will still be able to enjoy the excitement of the Games from the heart of our city.

"I look forward to coming down to the Piazza to cheer on Britain's top athletes – and hopefully watch them bring home the gold."

In addition to the coverage of the Olympics, the Plymouth Big Screen will also be showing a variety of other sports, arts and cultural events, including Style Plymouth, Flavour Fest, the Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch, Wimbledon, the summer movie screenings season and live coverage of the Six Nations rugby, starting tomorrow.

City centre manager Clint Jones said: "The Big Screen has provided a fantastic range of entertainment in recent years, and we have another fantastic line-up of events for 2012. The coverage of the 2012 Olympics will undoubtedly be one of the highlights, and will make Plymouth City Centre a place where everyone can come together to join in the excitement and celebrations."

For more details, visit www.shopplymouth.co.uk.