Memorandum submitted to the Scottish Affairs
Committee by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 This is a submission by the London Organising
Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).
1.2 LOCOG is responsible for planning, organising
and staging the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and is
the successor of London 2012 Ltd, the organisation which led London's
successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
1.3 LOCOG is committed to the delivery of
an outstanding Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London in
2012. This commitment extends to an unprecedented strategy to
engage the whole of the United Kingdom in the Games, and to ensuring
that, in whatever way possible, we open up the opportunities that
hosting the Games bring to all sports, communities, businesses
throughout the UK. We believe that the broader representation
and involvement of the UK in the Games will not only directly
contribute to the Games themselves, but will allow for those benefits
to be maximised by all.
2. DELIVERING
THE LONDON
2012 GAMES—ROLES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1 LOCOG is responsible for planning,
organising and staging the 2012 Games. It will be almost entirely
privately financed with an operating budget of £1.5 billion
at 2004 prices, drawn from a combination of IOC broadcast rights
and The Olympic Partner (TOP) programme, tickets sales, and LOCOG
sponsors and licensing. LOCOG will specify the requirements for
staging the London Games and will be the central point of contact
with the IOC.
2.2 The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
will be created by the London Olympics Bill and will be responsible
for ensuring delivery of the venues and infrastructure for the
Games. The ODA's Olympic specific works will be financed from
a public funding package of £2.375 billion at out-turn prices
and is separate and distinct from the LOCOG budget.
2.3 The Olympic Board will comprise
the Olympic Minister, the Mayor of London and the Chairmen of
the British Olympic Association and LOCOG. The Board will coordinate
the work of LOCOG, Government and the ODA.
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 It was an early priority for London
2012 to establish a framework to engage the whole of the UK and
to deliver the highest levels of public support for the Bid. This
needed to be established quickly and with reference to existing
structures, without seeking to create a new network from scratch.
3.2 The Nations and Regions Group (NRG)
was implemented by the London 2012 bid team as the best vehicle
to achieve this. Charles Allen, vice-chairman of London 2012 and
CEO of ITV, agreed to act as Chairman. Scottish representation
was sought via a request to the First Minister for nominations
to serve on the NRG.
3.3 The NRG contributed significantly to
raising public awareness and support for the bid across the UK.
LOCOG has consulted on the future of this group, and it is clear
that there is a commitment to see it continue and evolve into
a Group that works together to secure the maximum UK-wide benefits
related to 2012 such as preparation camps, tourism, and contracting
opportunities.
3.4 The work of the NRG was supported by
a wider programme of communications initiatives by London 2012,
including media campaigns, visits by London 2012 leadership and
ambassadors, the development of education materials for use in
schools, and more specific initiatives led by the NRG—the
hosting of a UK Opportunities Conference and publication of a
brochure highlighting the strength of offer the whole UK could
make to the Olympic Family.
3.5 LOCOG would like to express gratitude
for the support and contribution to date of the First Minister;
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport; the Scottish Executive
and delivery agencies, including through the establishing of a
dedicated, high-level working group.
4. BENEFITS/OPPORTUNITIES
Winning the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic
Games would provide an unparalleled opportunity to contribute
to the UK's sporting, cultural, economic, social and environmental
objectives. These benefits and opportunities include:
4.1 Boosting sport—The Games
will encourage the acceleration of the delivery of a new world-class
sports infrastructure for the UK. As a direct consequence, four
arenas and five swimming pools used during the Games will be relocated
to other parts of the UK, and all sports equipment used will be
given to sports clubs and charities across the UK. The Games is
likely to generate unprecedented levels of interest from business
and local authorities across the UK that could open up further
channels of funding for sport at all levels, and the lead up to
the Games could be used by those involved in sport to inspire
a new generation.
4.2 Business Opportunities—The
Sydney experience showed that New South Wales business won the
equivalent of £400 million in contracts, of which over £115
million was for regional companies with 55,000 people receiving
employment related training. Companies of all sizes and in a huge
range of sectors will be able to seek contracts, and those companies
that win business will be well placed to bid for future Olympic
and other major event contracts. Estimates suggest 7,000 full-time
equivalent jobs will be created in the construction industry and
provide opportunities for an enhanced training and skills development
programme.
4.3 Tourism—Australia recorded
an additional 1.6 million visitors spending over £2 billion
between 1997 and 2001 and the Sydney convention and exhibition
sector saw a 78% increase in international visitors. Through significant
exposure to a global TV audience of 4 billion, the UK tourism
industry will receive a significant boost—before, during
and after 2012. A Working Group to develop a strategy to make
the most of these opportunities will be established by stakeholders
working with LOCOG.
4.4 Preparation Camps—The Australian
experience shows that Queensland—1,000 kilometres from Sydney—hosted
179 teams from 48 countries, including Team GB who spent around
£1 million. Around 125 teams from 39 countries undertook
pre-Games training across New South Wales injecting the equivalent
of £26 million into the State's economy. If a similar programme
of preparation camps could be delivered they could be significant
investment in local communities across the UK. A Working Group
to develop a strategy to make the most of these opportunities
for the whole of the United Kingdom has been established by LOCOG
with other stakeholders.
4.5 Volunteering—Approximately
70,000 volunteers drawn from across the UK and beyond would be
required providing a unique boost both to sport specific, and
general, volunteering in the UK. A full Volunteer Strategy is
being put in place.
4.6 Arts, culture and education—The
Cultural Programme will begin with Liverpool City of Culture 2008
and will be a major aspect of the Games. A UK-wide Olympic Torch
Relay in 2012 is likely to last several months and involve every
major city and town in the UK. There will be an educational and
youth programme for all of the UK's children in the years leading
up to 2012. Initiatives will include an Athlete Ambassador programme
for schools and community groups to personify the values for the
Olympic ideal; development of a range of educational material
based upon Olympic values to support the National Curriculum;
a young Ambassador's programme focused on the most deprived areas
in the UK to help young people develop language skills and equip
participants to act as volunteers.
4.7 Environmental legacy—The
Games would set new standards for sustainable production, consumption
and recycling of natural resources that would provide a benchmark
for projects throughout the United Kingdom.
5. INVOLVEMENT
OF SCOTLAND
IN THE
BID
5.1 Business—Scottish business
made a significant contribution to our Bid, with Edinburgh-based
company Navy Blue securing the contract to design and produce
the Candidate File submitted to the IOC and worth in excess of
£700,000. This was one of the biggest contracts placed by
London 2012. A further significant contract to produce London
2012 branded material, in particular flags and banners, was secured
by another Scottish firm, Hi-Fli. Assistance on public relations,
in Scotland as well as other parts of the UK was provided by Pagoda
PR on a consultancy basis. This involvement gives Navy Blue, Hi-Fli
and Pagoda not just a platform to market themselves internationally,
but means that they have direct experience of and insight into
the process of bidding for major events, further strengthening
their ability to secure further work.
5.2 Political support—the Bid
team received strong support from the main political parties in
the UK, and in particular from the First Minister in Scotland,
along with the Scottish Executive who provided a strategic lead
through the working group established at the First Minister. The
working group engaged Scottish agencies including the Executive,
sportscotland, Visit Scotland, Event Scotland, Scottish
Enterprise and others. Representatives from this group sat on
the London 2012 Nations & Regions Group, providing clear links
between the Bid and Scotland.
5.3 Public support—It was critical
to be able to demonstrate high levels of support for the Games
throughout the UK to the IOC. We were able to do this by showing
that at the time of the IOC's own polling, popular support in
Scotland was over 70%—a figure higher than that in London
at the same time. Scottish agencies assisted the Bid team to generate,
coordinate and conduct support activity. Another crucial aspect
of this work was the generous endorsement and support we received
for the Bid from many Scottish athletes. Shirley Robertson, Chris
Hoy and Rhona Martin were amongst many whose backing was vital.
5.4 Venues—In order to meet
with the expectations of the IOC in terms of delivering a compact
Games, the London 2012 bid developed a blueprint that, where possible,
accommodated as many of the events and related venues as close
to the proposed Olympic Park in the East End of London. This is
the reason why the opportunity to take events around the rest
of the UK proved limited. The exception to this is the association
football tournament. The parameters for football meant that we
were able to distribute venues across the UK, and we are delighted
that Hampden Park, as a world-class venue, will be part of the
Games.
6. NEXT STEPS
6.1 LOCOG is committed to developing the
opportunity the Games present to build interest and participation
in sport across the UK. The Nations & Regions Group will meet
in its new format for the first time in November 2005 under the
chairmanship of Charles Allen. New terms of reference and a project
plan will be discussed at the first meeting. Membership will include
direct representation from Scotland, along with Wales, Northern
Ireland and the English Regions. Scotland will agree its own representative,
creating a link from the Scottish Working Group on the Games established
at the discretion, ultimately, of the First Minister. LOCOG, through
the NRG, will offer a suggested approach to the operation of the
Scottish Working Group, however its composition and remit will,
appropriately, remain a matter for the Executive and partners
in Scotland.
6.2 The NRG will link into appropriate structures
that will lead on the various "themes" emerging, including
tourism, business opportunities and preparation camps. There will
be direct representation within these structures from both LOCOG
and NRG, which will provide co-ordinated, strategic guidance.
6.3 The Scottish Working Group will appoint
its own membership and agree its own plan for ensuring Scotland
gains benefit from the Games. LOCOG, through the NRG will provide
the coordinated framework for developing these opportunities;
however the responsibility for the broader commercial benefits
to Scotland will remain dependent on the extent to which Scottish
agencies and Scottish companies are prepared to take advantage
of them. As outlined above, they would include preparation camps,
tourism, Scottish companies winning business, and delivery on
volunteering and cultural agendas. However Scottish companies
and agencies have already showed that they are ahead of the game
by winning work with the Bid.
6.4 One key area of cooperation will be
Glasgow's bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. A meeting between
the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Patricia Ferguson
MSP and relevant LOCOG personnel has already been set up to discuss
how London's bid can be of direct benefit in a range of ways to
Glasgow.
5 October 2005
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