Jowell Unveils Package of Measures to Support Business in Run up to 2012

102/06

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell announced a series of measures today designed to give maximum opportunity for businesses UK wide to benefit from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Speaking at a special UK wide business conference to promote the Olympic and Paralympic Games today in Leeds, the Olympics Minister told an audience of 200 delegates that they must seize the opportunity to make sure every corner of the UK reaps the benefits of the Games.

The measures include:

  • Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Procurement Policy – a detailed document which lays out how the Olympic Delivery Authority procures and manages the delivery of goods and services to deliver new venues and infrastructure in a sustainable way for the Games and the legacy, on time and to budget.

  • Tourism Consultation for the 2012 Games - aims to get the views of everyone from small B&B owners and local authority support staff, to big hotel chains and public sector organisations at national and regional levels. It seeks new and innovative ideas for maximising the potential benefits to tourism of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
     
  • The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Sustainability Policy - an agreed framework document which outline s how we will deliver a sustainable Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The framework identifies climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion and diversity and healthy living as the five key areas in which the Games can make the biggest impact in the drive to achieve environmentally, economically and socially sustainable Games in 2012 and build a sustainable legacy for London and the UK.

Joining the Minister at the conference was Paul Deighton, Chief Executive Officer of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG);  David Higgins, Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA);  Charles Allen MBE, Board member of LOCOG, Chair of the Nations and Regions Group and Chief Executive of ITV;  Lord Marshall, Chair Visit Britain; and  Jude Kelly, Chair of the Culture, Ceremonies and Education Advisory Committee, LOCOG and Artistic Director, South Bank Centre.

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Tessa Jowell said:

"These measures are an important step forward in our preparation for the 2012 Games.  We want to make sure the business sector UK wide is fully engaged in our plans from the very beginning, and that they have every possible tool at their disposal to maximise their own opportunities.   The measures introduced today are designed to make it easier for businesses to access information in the run-up to 2012, something that will be crucial as contracts are awarded and training camps are established. 

"In particular, the ODA Procurement Strategy will be invaluable for the business sector, looking for guidance on how to bid for contracts and the Tourism Consultation for the 2012 Games will fully engage the industry in order to make sure that we do all we can to ensure that we reap every conceivable benefit of hosting the Games."


David Miliband, Secretary of State for DEFRA, said: 

"The Olympics and Paralympics must be a showcase for the British commitment to sustainability. This early declaration and commitment sets a benchmark for action, and I look forward to working with industry colleagues to follow it through."

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Paul Deighton, CEO of LOCOG said: 

"My one major message right now for all UK businesses is that you have not missed the boat.  Putting on an Olympic Games is a marathon, not a sprint, and opportunities for businesses to get involved will develop over the next six years.

"And then there will be another range of opportunities as the venues move to legacy and on-going management.

"Our determination that we have a Sustainable Games and a Sustainable Legacy has led us to develop a policy 'Towards a One Planet Olympics' – in partnership with WWF and BioRegional – which links enhancement of the local environment and sustainable development initiatives, to tackling global issues such as climate change.

"UK businesses involved with the Games therefore have a golden opportunity to showcase innovation and new sustainable services, products and technologies."


David Higgins, Chief Executive of the ODA said:

"The ODA faces the challenge of delivering the new venues and infrastructure in a sustainable way for the Games and the Legacy and I believe our procurement policy will help with this.

"The ODA has a finite lifetime, but our work programme can be the catalyst for change across industry and it is my hope that the standards we set will encourage continuing improvements and innovation to 2012 and beyond."

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