Report Says a London 2012 Olympic Boom Unlikely

A report by the London East Research Institute at the University of East London, that analyzed nine areas of the legacy that London 2012 officials hope to leave, shows that assurances the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games will create a boom in jobs, tourism and sports participation, are unlikely to be fulfilled.

According to the Observer the report says promises that the Games will bring 50,000 jobs, affordable new housing on a large scale, and contracts for small businesses in east London where the Games will be held, will prove very difficult to honour.

The study says “long-term unemployed and workless communities were largely unaffected by the staging of the Games in each of the (four) cities (Athens, Sydney, Atlanta and Barcelona). Much of the employment was temporary, and there was also little evidence that volunteer skills transferred to the post-Games economy. Greece actually lost 70,000 jobs in the three months following the (2004) Games, mostly in the construction industry. However, Sydney in 2000 and Barcelona in 1992 did enjoy some growth in jobs and inward investment from firms relocating”.

The report concluded that it will be “very challenging” for London to meet its goals on employment, sports, participation, skills, tourism and disability awareness. Aims for urban renewal, the environment and the economy are ‘challenging’ while only community participation plans are deemed ‘feasible’”.

Sports venues built for 2010 could become “white elephants” with no proper after-use, as happened in some of the four cities studied, said the authors. In fact tourism, predicted to enjoy a two billion pound boom, could actually decline.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which oversees the Olympics, is quoted in the Observer saying, “the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have the potential to leave significant benefits for people throughout the UK. However, we have always said that these benefits will not fall into our laps. We have to work hard to make that happen and that is exactly what we are already doing and will continue to do”. Write or read comments about this article

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