Going For Gold

Written by Graham Tope on Wed 6th Nov 2002

It's been more than 50 years since London last hosted the Olympic games but in 2012 we may once again welcome the world's top athletes to our city.

A recent independent report, commissioned by the London Development Agency, the British Olympic Association and the Government, highlights the social and economic benefits of bidding for, and winning, the chance to host the event.

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats are supporting a bid for the Olympics. The event would provide London with a welcome economic boost thanks to increased tourism. Some of the capital's most deprived areas would be regenerated, with knock-on effects throughout the capital; thousands of new jobs would be created and it could provide the impetus to finally getting projects such as CrossRail off the drawing boards.

If this was an Olympic event, bidding to host the games would be the marathon. There is a long way to go and already the idea has its detractors, who believe that hosting the Olympics would be a financial disaster, cause traffic chaos in an already congested city and that the money should be spent on other, more worthy causes.

And of course, still fresh in our minds are the memories of the Dome saga, the Picketts Lock disaster and the torturous mess of Wembley.

So there is understandable caution about the ability of London to manage an even larger and more high-profile project. That is why we need someone to take a strong lead and a strategic approach to mounting a bid, promoting London's ability to deliver on major projects and host large events. So far, the Mayor has done little - his draft London Plan only briefly mentions the Olympics. There will need to be adequate research into the transport, land and environmental issues relating to a bid. An effective public consultation process to ensure the public is well-informed and supportive of the bid will also be a necessity.

Most importantly, he would have to ensure that any proposed developments are long-term and for the benefit of Londoners, with enough flexibility to meet the needs of an Olympic bid (and not vice versa). For example, the Olympic village could provide thousands of much needed affordable homes for the capital.

London should go for 2012 – another opportunity will not present itself for a long time and benefits like the regeneration of some of the poorest parts of London will be squandered. The bid needs the full backing of the BOA and the Government – but its strongest champion should be the Mayor of London.