Rising East Online

Engaging with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games

Marian Larragy

At London Civic Forum, where we focus primarily on the London regional tier of government, we have been promoting engagement, rather than just consultation, as a better way for London’s citizens to influence and know about what regional government is doing. Sometimes this involves a battle to ensure that those in power provide information and give the ongoing commitment necessitated by engagement. Sometimes it means that we have to risk engagement even where we are not entirely comfortable. What follows are some thoughts on why Londoners should engage with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

London Civic Forum Council, with 1000+ member organisations from across the private, public, voluntary, community and faith sectors, took a position to support the bid for the 2012 Games, not because everyone believed in it, but because London’s selection as a candidate city was a major happening in London regional politics and government. This was not simple pragmatism. While council member organisations had concerns, few were opposed to a London Games in any circumstances. The concerns were about the potential for wasting resources on a failed bid and the possibility of derailing commitments in a rush to the winning post.

The Civic Forum produced a report on the potential legacy of the bid and, if the bid were to be successful, of the Games. The report included recommendations from members, for example the East London Citizen’s Organisation wanted the adoption of a fair wage strategy; South East Regional Trade Union Congress wanted a clear distinction between paid and voluntary work; and the West London Alliance wanted attention paid to the issues for areas beyond East London. Other recommendations were of a broader nature, such as the use of local labour and reduction of pollution from commuting by the construction workforce. All of these issues are being addressed and, to some extent to date, being progressed.

What impressed us about the 2012 bid was the high level coordination and cooperation between agencies, authorities and boards. All the functional bodies of the Greater London Authority have done serious planning for logistical needs. The Treasury gave early assurances on what measures of funding would be permitted, borough councils across the UK networked about how to spread the benefits beyond London; the five boroughs in the Stratford area formed a joint planning body; and the Mayor had laid down that the economic regeneration of East London and tackling social exclusion were key priorities.

The London Civic Forum held engagement sessions with ten distinct sections of Londoners. Of course, they appreciated the fact that their existence had been recognised and responded positively, but they also voiced concerns about local people’s need for homes, jobs, training and small businesses, in relation to which the proposals were seen to offer opportunities as well as to pose threats. The London 2012 team did take away the issues raised, and there were signs that these were being picked up by the core organisers. Many people were excited by the prospect of hosting the Games because of their global connections. For some refugee and immigrant communities, the international aspect was seen as an opportunity to re-connect with their global context. Almost every Somali person who was asked if Somalis were interested in the Olympic Games, mentioned the Abdi Bile - a name which produced 42,000 Google connections, but not a lot of non Somali Londoners have heard of him. As the Somali state has all but disappeared, the opportunity to host an event which would raise the profile of such common symbols of identity have a huge resonance for diasporic communities. The bid that won the Games for London made much of the youth of the world theme and there are high expectations that there will be inclusive economic and cultural, as well as sporting, developments to deliver this.

Issues such as the need for open space, protection of special environment, and the gentrification effects of regeneration are part of the growing urban pressure that London and other cities face. It is possible that winning the 2012 Games will exacerbate them, but it is also arguable that such an ambitious strategic transformation, could make a contribution to tackling some of London’s most intractable problems. For example, the planned target for the number of “step free” stations in London by 2010 has been increased to 25% in order to meet with the commitment to an “accessible Games”.

All over London, we hear that local people and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds should get access to the jobs being created by new developments, but that this does not happen on its own. Here we have the London Development Agency, which leads on tackling economic and social exclusion of sections of Londoners under the direction of a Mayor who has clearly stated his priority for equalities and sustainability, playing a huge role in land assembly and putting together the Olympic Development Authority and a very strong partnership with the five borough councils. There is a strong case for engaging with the process of delivering the stated objectives to ensure that the aspiration is taken as far as our abilities will allow it to go.

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be in London. The commitment to inclusive and sustainable games is widely flagged publicly. Strategic control and cooperation between the major players is in place. The next phase, where a private company takes on the job of delivering the Games to the specification, can only benefit from the oversight and involvement of Londoners. Lots of people need information and assistance to ensure that they can contribute best outcomes for Londoners from all walks of life. The case for engagement is strong.

For information on what is happening since London won the bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the following links might be helpful, although they may change over the next few months. The London Development Agency is the lead body for land assembly and hosts the Shadow Olympic Development Agency, which will become independent following legislation for which royal assent is expected in April 2006. London 2012 will become the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games:

• www.london2012.org/en
• www.lda.gov.uk
• www.londoncivicforum.org.uk

Marian Larragy, Policy Participation Co-ordinator, London Civic Forum, 18a Victoria Park Square, London E2 9PB. Charity No. 1097837 T: 020 8709 9773 marian@londoncivicforum.org.uk

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