The faces of people who are pledging to stay healthy and get fit as a way to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are hanging from The Forum ceiling.

Pledge 2012 has rallied adults and children across Norfolk to 'take the pledge' over the past eight months and yesterday their images took pride of place on The Forum ceiling as the official Pledge 2012 banners were unveiled.

There were three eight-metre long banners featuring 2007 faces, fixed there by a special machine.

Forum marketing manager Jayne Evans said: 'It's been great working with Active Norfolk on this project. It's not just about the professionals. It's about the rest of us here. We're not taking the banners down until after the Olympic and Paralympic Games so we are hoping this will inspire everyone to take part.'

The Pledge Pod played host to promises made – complete with interactive green-screen allowing participants to experience the atmospheric feel of running in the Olympic Stadium or cycling in the velodrome.

Physical activity and health improvement co-ordinator for Active Norfolk, Nick Clarke, 28, from Wymondham, who has made his own pledge to complete his first triathlon, said: 'The idea is to make these pledges tangible and realistic. We are not just looking at sport, but anything, like stopping smoking. We want everyone to be able to make a pledge, so they can all take part and feel involved.'

The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Ralph Gayton, Pledge person number 2,008 on the day, said: 'This is such a great idea. It's a really good thing to be promoting health and exercise. I have made a pledge myself – called the diet 5. Each day I have to eat 5 healthy things, like fruit and vegetables and it is going well.'

Justine Hottinger from Happisburgh said: 'My pledge was to get as fit as I was before I had my children, I'm not there yet but I've been doing these classes that involve aerobics and stretching, I really enjoy it. My son pledged to swim to the end of the pool and he has completed his challenge'

Son Rudy Haywood, eight, said: 'I swam to the end of the pool and back five times, I've done it.'

Many known faces were there to support the event including Norwich's Olympic Torch bearer, Daniel Browne.