The latest news from London 2012 / Issue 4 / Summer 2008
Feature
news
Celebrate with us How to join in with Handover celebrations Page 2
Park ahead of schedule IOC praise progress Page 3
Business is booming Small businesses boosted by Games Page 4
Spreading the benefits Around the UK Page 6
Feature
Celebrate with us
London 2012 is inviting people across the UK to join in Handover celebrations, marking the moment the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to the UK.
On 24 August 2008 the Beijing Olympic Games draw to a close; we will put on a short show as part of the Closing Ceremony and the Olympic Flag will be handed over to the Mayor of London. But the real celebration will be back home in the UK. The BBC will broadcast the ceremony live and it will play on big screens across the UK. After the ceremony, the real party kicks off. We’re putting on a 40,000-person concert on The Mall in London, featuring world-class acts, top sports stars and TV personalities. Between 3:30-5:30pm – as Handover takes place – special flags will be raised by local authorities all over the UK to mark the moment.
Cover – the official Olympic Handover Flag
2
Progress
Park ahead of schedule
Make sure you are part of the celebrations. Find out more and apply for a ticket to the party on The Mall at www.london202.com/handover On 7 September the Paralympic Handover celebrations take place. We’re inviting schools and colleges to take the lead in marking the moment. There is a special online resource to help them plan: you can find it at www.london202.com/ paralympichandover The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has praised the ‘astounding’ pace of progress towards the 2012 Games. Members of the IOC’s London 2012 Coordination Commission spent three days reviewing the latest preparations as construction began on the Olympic Stadium – three months ahead of schedule. Commission Chair Denis Oswald said: ‘We have been greatly impressed by the quality and speed with which the London 2012 Organising Committee and its partners have been able to progress since our last visit. ‘The most visible element is obviously venue construction and the progress made on the Olympic Park, in particular, is truly astounding.’ The Commission’s visit coincided with the start of the ‘big build’ construction phase, which will see the Olympic Park venues take shape over the next three years. Work will get under way on the Aquatics Centre, VeloPark, International Broadcast Centre/Main Press Centre and the Olympic Village in the coming months. Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the Park to mark the start of construction, saying: ‘This is not only a tremendous project, it is being executed brilliantly, we’re ahead of schedule.’
Key dates
24 August Olympic Games Handover 7 September Paralympic Games Handover Education programme launches 26-28 September Launch of Cultural Olympiad
Prime Minister Gordon Brown with LOCOG Chair Seb Coe and ODA Chair John Armitt at the Olympic Park site
3
Business / Partner news
Business is booming
UK businesses benefiting from Games
650 companies have already won over £2 billion worth of work supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority. Over 70 per cent are small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and 98 per cent are UK based. SMEs also make up nearly 90 per cent of the 18,000 companies registered on the unique ‘dating agency’ which aims to match businesses with London 2012-related opportunities, through the London 2012 Business Network. A promotional tour around the UK has seen events explaining how to make the most of opportunities, which will be worth a total £6bn.
Sustainable business
The London 2012 Organising Committee has signed up to the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange – a scheme that enables the monitoring of contractors across a range of environmental and social criteria. The move is part of a commitment to stage a truly sustainable 2012 Games, and will be followed by the launch of a sustainable sourcing code in the autumn.
Business Network
Find out about the latest business opportunities on the London 2012 Business Network. Go to www.london202.com/business
Partner news
Lloyds TSB supports Local Heroes
London 2012 partner Lloyds TSB has launched a ‘Local Heroes’ programme providing over £1million to young sportspeople on the journey to the 2012 Games. Over the next five years ‘Local Heroes’ will provide up to £1,000 to 250 emerging young sportspeople who are already competing at a top GB or European level but still have to make a breakthrough at senior level. Delivered in partnership with SportsAid, it is the bank’s first initiative for its London 2012 vision of inspiring and supporting young people, businesses and communities across Britain.
Birmingham’s Local Heroes Fran Ray, Joseph Costello, Jonathan Kay and Daniel O’Connor
4
Progress
Public show appetite for Paralympic sport
Construction college
A new construction college has opened on the Olympic Park site to train local people and help them get jobs building for the 2012 Games. The centre, located at Eton Manor, runs courses in skills such as dumper truck driving on a site designed to replicate that of a real construction project. Almost 200 students a year will use the facility as part of the National Skills Academy for Construction for London 2012.
Two out of three people in the UK want to see more Paralympic sport, according to the results of new survey for London 2012.
Members of the general public and figures from the UK media were asked about their views on the Paralympic Games and Paralympic athletes. More than nine in 10 described Paralympic athletes as good role models for young people – but only 31 per cent of those questioned could name a Paralympian. The findings were published as London 2012 launched a new guide to the Paralympic Games, including detailed information on the 20 Paralympic sports. Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: ‘We will work with the International Paralympic Committee and the British Paralympic Association to make sure we take every opportunity to educate, engage, inform and inspire the UK public and the world over the next four years and deliver a truly memorable Paralympic Games in 2012.’ www.london202.com/publications
Watch out for new Olympicthemed National Lottery scratch cards
The cards – ‘Olympic Champions’, ‘Gold Gold Gold’, ‘Gold Fever’ and ‘Go For Gold’ – will all raise money to help fund the venues and infrastructure of the 2012 Games. The National Lottery is contributing £2.2 billion towards the Games, £750 million of which comes directly from specially designated 2012 games such as these.
The launch of the ‘Go For Gold’ Scratchcard
Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is the best known Paralympic athlete in the UK
5
Around the UK
Spreading the benefits
On the road
The Get Set London roadshow went on a three-month tour of the capital, highlighting the benefits of the 202 Games and the ways to get involved.
pods highlighting opportunities in sport, business and culture
3
13
LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton, Seb Coe and Alex Salmond
weeks from 9 January to 6 April
10,000
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, has continued touring the UK to see how people are planning to maximise the benefits of the Games in their region.
He spent a day in Scotland with First Minister Alex Salmond, MSPs from all parties and the emerging Organising Committee for Glasgow 2014, as part of efforts to maximise the impact of the Games. He also made a visit to Wales, where he inspected a number of sites included in the Pre-Games Training Camp Guide. In the East Midlands, Seb was represented by Olympic Champion Jonathan Edwards, a member of the London 2012 Board, who met local athletes and business leaders at Derbyshire County Cricket Ground.
6
Seb said: ‘These are a London Games, but my responsibility is for people to realise that this is a UK-wide project.’
votes in the London 2012 talent contest. Winners ‘We Were Heroes’ will perform at Handover celebrations in August.
Nations and Regions Group
The Nations and Regions Group is working to make sure the whole of the UK is involved in and benefits from the 2012 Games. The group is made up of 12 representatives – nine from the English regions and one each from the home nations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Every region and home nation has its own task force, vision and plan for making the most of the Games. More information: www.london202.com/in-your-area
31,000
Londoners joining in
The ones to watch
One to watch
Hannah Mills, 20, is a multiple junior World and European Sailing Champion from Cardiff.
She started sailing at age eight on a family holiday in Cornwall. ‘I can’t imagine life without sailing. Ever since I first tried it, I just loved it. ‘I’ve always been quite a competitive person but the thrill of winning is very addictive and once you’ve had a taste of success, it makes it easier to get in the zone next time. ‘I’ve recently stepped up to the Olympic 470 class and won a place in the Olympic Development Squad following my achievements in the youth 420 class. ‘It’s a big step up to senior level, and there’s lots to learn, but I’m enjoying the challenge. ‘To compete in the Olympic Games would be a dream come true and it’s awesome that London won the 2012 bid. ‘To be part of those Games would be incredible, especially to compete in front of family and friends. ‘It’s great as the Sailing is based in Weymouth and Portland and we train there every weekend. ‘By 2012 I’ll have sailed there so much I’ll know the bay inside out!’
Beijing hopefuls
Sailing has been one of Team GB’s most successful sports at recent Games – responsible for five Olympic medals in Athens 2004. Hopes are high for a repeat success in Beijing 2008, when the top gold medal prospects will include: – Ben Ainslie (defending champion, Olympic Finn) – Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson (Olympic Yngling) – Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield (Olympic 470) – John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas (Paralympic Sonar)
7
Weymouth and Portland news
Ready to set sail at Weymouth and Portland
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) will host the Sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Located on the Jurassic coastline, Weymouth and Portland will provide a spectacular backdrop to the Sailing action. The Games will give local people the chance to showcase their area and the charm of the South West to the world. London 2012 is making improvements to the WPNSA that will further enhance its reputation as a worldclass venue. Construction started in spring 2008 and is due to finish in late autumn, making it one of the first venues to be ready for the Games. This means local sailors and those from all over the UK can enjoy these improvements nearly four years before the Games. Benefits for local people Earlier this year, London 2012 chose a South West based company to make the enhancements to the Sailing venue. This company is committed to using local suppliers to help carry out this work. Employment in the area will be further boosted through the development of a new 560-berth commercial marina at Osprey Quay. During the Games, London 2012 will use 250 of these berths. Dean & Reddyhoff, developers for the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), are leading on the new marina. The marina will include retail and industrial developments, bringing new tourism and employment opportunities to the area. Jane Henderson, Chief Executive of SWRDA said: ‘The 2012 Games are estimated to bring £1.7bn to the South West economy. ‘Helping to achieve that is the regeneration of Osprey Quay as a global centre for sailing excellence and a magnet for leisure and marine industries.’
London 202 Sailing
Olympic Games 28 July – 11 August 11 gold medals 400 athletes Paralympic Games 31 August – 5 September 3 gold medals 80 athletes
Protecting the environment and wildlife
London 2012 developed the plans for the venue’s enhancement with Natural England to make sure that work did not harm the environment and local wildlife. For example, work did not start until spring so the nesting season of over-wintering birds around the local coastline was not disrupted. Designs for the improvements have also been awarded the CEEQUAL Excellence Award (Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme). The London 2012 project, while distinct from Dean & Reddyhoff’s commercial marina, is being completed in line with the operational and environmental elements of the Osprey Quay plan.
8
Weymouth and Portland news
Construction starts
London 2012 is making improvements to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) in preparation for the Sailing events in 2012. These new permanent features include: – an all-tide,150m wide slipway; – race boat parking/maintenance area; – race boat lifting facilities; and – pontoon mooring facilities that will be sheltered by a rock wave protection structure. Most of the stone and rock needed to create the new facilities is now on site. This means there will be less traffic from the quarry to the site. As work to build the slipway and paving begins, readymixed concrete will start to be delivered from Weymouth across the causeway. Later in the year, new pontoons will be put in place. Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chief Executive David Higgins and London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) Chief Executive Paul Deighton toured the site in May and took a look at some of the early work. David Higgins said: ‘The start of construction on the first venue for 2012 is an important step forward. ‘It is significant that we have hit this major milestone in Weymouth and Portland, showing London 2012 will be a nationwide Games with sporting and economic benefits spread around the country.’ Be safe Heavy machinery will be used during the project. This can be dangerous
The majority of the ‘fill’ material needed for the new slipway has now been installed
even when not in use. The construction site is fenced on the land for safety reasons, so please do not enter, go near the machinery or allow children to do so. Take notice of all signs and in particular of any special arrangements for traffic that may be in place near to the site entrance. Part of the construction site is in the water and this area cannot be fenced off. All water traffic must keep clear of the construction area and take note of the buoys that mark out the site, as well as the ‘Notice to
Mariners’ and instructions from the WPNSA.
Construction hotline
As we work on enhancing the WPNSA, we will try to limit disruption to local people as much as possible. A 24-hour telephone hotline has been set up for those living and working near London 2012 venues. This hotline goes straight to a member of the Community Relations team and local people are encouraged to use it if they have any questions or if they want to know more about construction on the Sailing venue.
50,000
number of tonnes of Portland stone already used for construction
Call us on: 08000 722 0
9
Weymouth and Portland news
A world-class Sailing legacy
The improvements to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy facilities are scheduled to be finished by the end of the year, giving Team GB the chance to train at the venue nearly four years before the Games.
These new facilities benefit all levels of sailors – from recreational and beginners to the elite. The enhancements will also help the academy to attract higher level Sailing competitions. Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘Weymouth and Portland will be transformed from an existing top class venue into a world-class training and competition venue equipped to stage major international sailing events and competitions before and long after the Games.’ Young people give sailing a go Young people in the Weymouth and Portland area have been given a fantastic chance to try sailing through the ‘Sail for a Fiver’ scheme, held at the WPNSA. The scheme lets local school children try out sailing for just £5. About 2,000 children have taken part in the event, which is sponsored by the Chesil Trust. One participant, Adam, 11, from Southwell Primary School has now developed a passion for the sport. ‘Although I landed in the water a few times, I was determined to carry on and couldn’t get back in the boat quickly enough.’ Adam was one of two young participants to be offered a £265 sponsorship to go on a five-day Sailing course at the WPNSA to gain his Royal Yachting Association (RYA) 1 and 2 qualifications. This sponsorship was raised through the Henri Lloyd Weymouth Regatta.
0
Artist’s impression of Weymouth and Portland after the enhancements
Weymouth and Portland news
Getting to the Sailing events
Adam, sailing for just £5.
After enjoying sailing so much, Adam raised money by doing the Sport Relief Mile so he could help give other young people a chance to test the waters. He raised £167 and pledged £50 to Sport Relief. He gave the rest to the Chesil Trust and a local business then matched this amount. Adam now has his own boat and sails every week with a group of young sailors at the WPNSA. ‘My sailing is going really well and hopefully I will join in more regattas,’ Adam said. ‘Sailing is best when there is a lot of wind because it makes you go really fast and makes you learn how to get better.’ ‘I’m saving up to do the course to get my RYA 3 and 4 qualifications either later this summer or next Easter.’ Adam has also received a letter from Seb Coe, congratulating him on his fundraising and sailing achievements. ‘I wish you every success with your sailing in the future – maybe one day we may even see you competing at a future Olympic Games’. During 2012, the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events will give thousands of spectators the chance to watch the world’s best sailors compete. London 2012 is working closely with Dorset County Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and other stakeholders to develop its transport plans for the area during the Games. Spectators will be able to watch the events from a number of viewing areas strategically located within the borough. Many will travel from local areas and others are expected to travel from across the UK. Weymouth rail station will provide a key link for spectators travelling from outside Weymouth and Portland, while local bus services will help get many around the area. London 2012 is working with local authorities to connect walking and cycling routes with the spectator areas. It is also considering the possibility of temporary park-andride services to supplement public transport during the Games.
Olympic Delivery Authority 23rd floor, One Churchill Place Canary Wharf, London E14 5LN Reception +44 (0) 203 2012 000 www.london2012.com
Olympic Park facts:
The piece of land we are transforming is 2.5 km2 – the size of 357 football pitches. More than 200km of electrical cables – enough to stretch from London to Nottingham – will be put into two six kilometre tunnels built under the Park. At its peak, a 9,000-strong workforce will be on site across the Olympic Park up to one million tonnes of concrete brought on site for construction. Over 60,000 athletes and officials will arrive in the UK to take part in the Games. They will bring with them a variety of unusual baggage – from javelins and bicycles to bespoke wheelchairs and firearms. Up to 240,000 spectators will visit the Olympic Park at peak times during the Games If all London 2012 sports events were each held on consecutive days instead of simultaneously, there would be 38 competition days for Olympic Games events and another 33 days for the Paralympic Games. In 2012, we will pack it all into 27 days of great sporting action.
This document and the official Emblem of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd is protected by copyright. © London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd 2007. All rights reserved. This document is printed at an environmentally aware ISO14001-certified printer on recycled paper. Published June 2008.
This is available in large print, audio, Braille and Polish on request. Please call 020 3 2012 000 or email enquiries@london2012.com Quote reference number ODA2008/047