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Carrying the Torch for East London in 2012 – an evening of public debate

Friday 24 February 2006

How do we evaluate the impacts of London 2012? And how can we work together to ensure the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games deliver the best possible results for East London?

The London East Research Institute at the University of East London (UEL) has teamed up with Newham’s 2012 Unit to present an evening of public debate about the potential impacts of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on East London.

On the evening of Tuesday, 7th March, an expected 200 people will join speakers including Tessa Sanderson OBE, Councillor Paul Brickell, Professor Gavin Poynter, UEL researchers and community leaders at the Old Town Hall on Stratford Broadway, to talk about what a ‘good games’ might look like and how local people and agencies can work together to deliver the best possible results for East London.

Other confirmed speakers include Munira Mirza, David Powell, Dr Iain Macrury of the London East Research Institute and Angus Ritchie of the London Citizens’ Alliance.

Carrying the Torch for East London, a detailed investigation into local people’s attitudes to the London bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games conducted by researchers from the London East Research Institute for Leaside Regeneration, was launched at The Big Sunday.

The report includes the results of a pilot study into the attitudes and opinions of long-term residents, young people, community workers and youth workers in the lower Lea Valley, interviewed both before and after London was announced as the winner of the IOC vote in July last year.

Professor Phil Cohen, Director of the London East Research Institute said: “We believe that taking local people’s views on board is vital if we want to deliver the best possible result for East London, and we need to listen carefully to what people have to say, and explore the anxieties as well as aspirations about the Games.”

The event is from 6 - 8 pm on Tuesday, 7th March at The Old Town Hall, 29, The Broadway, Stratford E15 4BQ. All welcome - admission is free and refreshments are provided.

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For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

The University of East London (UEL) is now rated London’s leading modern (post-1992) university, and among the top five modern universities in the UK, according to the Guardian University Guide 2005/06. UEL is a global learning community, with 19,000 students from over 100 countries world-wide.

Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of our diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry. www.uel.ac.uk 

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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