| The 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games is | | | | she wouldn't have found a job easily or even at all, if |
| three years away and yet projects are ahead of | | | | it wasn't for the prospect of the Games. |
| schedule. | | | | The capital is buzzing with excitement as restaurants, |
| Lord Coe, chairman of the London Organising | | | | hotels and tourist attractions improve and gear-up to |
| Committee told BBC News that they have met all 10 | | | | accommodate all the tourists that will be flooding the |
| milestones the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) had | | | | city. |
| set for this stage of the preparations. | | | | Government officials and organizers of the event |
| "We are a little bit further ahead of bang on target. | | | | daily express their excitement towards the current |
| Not only is this project on track but it will actually | | | | developments as well as the future of the UK. |
| deliver some extraordinary prizes," Coe added. | | | | But what do you think? |
| Recently Lord Coe wrote about these developments | | | | Peter (44) a restaurant manager in Kent thinks that |
| in The Telegraph. | | | | London and London only will reap the profits from |
| "When I delivered our bid to the International Olympic | | | | the event. |
| Committee in Singapore four years ago, a central | | | | "I think the majority of the tourists will eat and stay |
| part of our commitment was to seize the | | | | in East London or as close to it as possible," he said. |
| once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of regenerating | | | | Karen (29) from Manchester is still optimistic about |
| neglected east London, and to provide jobs, | | | | what the Olympics can do for the city she lives in. |
| opportunities and hope for generations to come. And | | | | "The Olympics will be good for the economy but I |
| we're doing that," he wrote. | | | | hope smaller businesses will benefit as much as large |
| UK jobs in the capital are benefiting from the | | | | companies and that other cities in the UK such as |
| developments and will continue to do so according to | | | | Manchester will also enjoy regeneration as a result of |
| him. | | | | the Games," she said. |
| "Our delivery partner, the Olympic Delivery Authority, | | | | "So far though preparation for the Olympics has not |
| has sought work worth more than £3.5 billion | | | | done much in my opinion to help the thousands of |
| from 935 companies, while we expect 75,000 | | | | people who lost their jobs as a result of the |
| business opportunities to have become available by | | | | recession," Karen added. |
| 2012," he added. | | | | Gary (28) from Reading is irritated by all the sceptical |
| Although the recession could be seen as the worst | | | | comments people have been making. |
| time ever for any country to host an expensive | | | | "I think it will give the economy an enormous boost. |
| event like the Olympic Games, there are many who | | | | Yes, money is being spent but the UK is the first |
| believe that it could be the solution to surviving it. | | | | country to host a go-green Olympics making it |
| BBC News reports on a statement made by IOC | | | | something different and interesting," he said. |
| president Jacques Rogge who justified his confidence | | | | According to a Redhill and Reigate Life article, the |
| in the country to host the event during such a | | | | ODA estimates that 75,000 contracts worth around |
| turbulent point in time. | | | | £6bn will be won nationally leading up to the |
| "The Games have survived difficult times before. | | | | Games as well as during, and that the South East for |
| They have survived and thrived because of what | | | | example will benefit economically with £1bn. |
| they mean to people all over the world," he said. | | | | Surrey County Council has pledged to assist |
| "The Games remind us that the transient difficulties | | | | businesses with as much help as possible to make |
| of life can be overcome through hard work and | | | | sure that the county's businesses claim their share. |
| determination." | | | | "Now is the time to give our businesses the help and |
| The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson recently wrote | | | | advice they need to clinch work on offer in the |
| in the London Evening Standard that the Games | | | | run-up to, and during, the Olympics," Denise |
| create a sense of hope and euphoria. | | | | Saliagopoulos, county council cabinet member told the |
| "We are going to put on the greatest show on | | | | publication. |
| earth, and to use the investment to transform parts | | | | "Surrey is well placed to benefit from the Olympic |
| of London that have been neglected for decades. I | | | | effect because the county is between two major |
| am determined to use these Olympics to help | | | | airports and has key road and rail links into London, |
| generate jobs, and to improve the whole city," he | | | | and we intend to ensure businesses in the county |
| wrote. | | | | get the maximum benefit," she added. |
| Current Olympic jobs and future opportunities for | | | | Let's fast forward our thoughts to the year 2013... |
| employment leading up to the event often | | | | The Olympic Games are done, tourists have come |
| mistakenly fall only under the construction label, | | | | and gone and let's say the ODA was right and the |
| seeing as this is the most obvious. | | | | UK economy has done as well as they anticipated. |
| However, construction jobs aren't the only jobs that | | | | Now what? Surely the new stadiums that were built |
| will stem from the Games. | | | | won't be barred up to only use the next time London |
| London Evening Standard reports that the budget | | | | is honoured by hosting the Olympic Games again? |
| hotels group, Travelodge has invested £84m | | | | "After the Games, that momentum will carry forward |
| on six different properties in London as well as | | | | as we will have addressed key issues such as the |
| creating 200 new jobs in catering and hospitality. | | | | lack of swimming and cycling facilities in the capital |
| "We have long stated our aim of being the lead | | | | and will have left legacy and infrastructure for future |
| brand in London by the time of the Games. It is a | | | | generations to enjoy," Lord Coe wrote in his article in |
| once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the tourism industry | | | | The Telegraph. |
| and we intend to take it with both hands," Grant | | | | According to the UK Press Association the Olympic |
| Hearn, Travelodge's chief executive told the | | | | Park could now host events like Twenty20 cricket, |
| publication. | | | | London Fashion Week and farmers' markets. |
| Catering and Hospitality could see more opportunities | | | | Everyone has an opinion about the 2012 London |
| opening up as companies enlarge before 2012. | | | | Olympics and Paralympic Games, some bad, some |
| Like Sarah (24) a waitress from Devon who has | | | | indifferent and some great. |
| recently relocated to London to try for a better job. | | | | However, the fact remains that if the UK didn't have |
| "Luckily I wasn't looking for too long. I am now | | | | this event to create extra jobs and added business, |
| employed at a company that expanded with a new | | | | there would have been thousands more left jobless, |
| restaurant in East London in order to benefit most | | | | and millions left with not even a glimmer of hope for |
| from the Games," she said. | | | | things to get better. |
| Although the Olympics is still far away, Sarah thinks | | | | |