By Aaron Barbour
There is genuine excitement and expectancy amongst many local people in east London about the coming Games; in part driven by sporting success of of team GB in the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.
Now that the Olympic Flag has been handed over by the Chinese to the new host city London the focus tuns sharply towards 2012.
In 2007/08 we were ran a series of local events commissioned by the London Borough of Newham’s Community Participation Unit, so we could understand from local residents how the London Olympics 2012 might inspire them to become more active in their local community.
We have compiled all the views and feedback we collected at the eight events into one downloadable report “Inspired By the Olympics”. This report shares the views and opinions that local residents hold about the Olympics, so that the responsible bodies and agencies across the five London Olympic boroughs and other parts of the UK, can hear the voices of local people and take action to deliver a better Olympics, and more importantly to leave behind a valuable legacy for local residents and businesses in the area.
We found that local residents were excited and felt proud and inspired by the coming Games. ‘I am looking forward to the Olympics: I feel it is a positive and uplifting move for the borough.’ They wanted to be involved in the Games themselves, by attending the sport events, as well as volunteering. ‘I wish that everyone will get involved, especially the youngsters.’ Many local residents wanted to take advantage of future employment, training and business opportunities. People felt that better jobs, and better paid jobs, along with good childcare were key priorities. They wanted to volunteer in their local communities to enable other people to get involved. They also wished for improvements in council services, including safer local parks, cleaner streets and neighbourhoods, more policing, less crime amongst young people.
We asked children of all ages to contribute to the consultation. Here are a few…
I wish…
‘I could run or swim in the Olympics 2012.’
‘My wish is to attend at least one event’.
‘The Olympics bring fun and improvements to our community.‘
‘I wish to do the relay and become the winner, and get the medals and the money for the poor people.’
‘I am four now and I will be nine when the Olympics starts, how can I be involved?’
Download the report: Inspired by the Olympics.
