A stronger regional and local economy through realising the economic potential of sport

Working with local and regional partners has seen developments for delivery and opportunities realised for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Back to contents page

Key highlights

•Substantial publicity gained from 2012 Games decision day event held at Jesse Boot Wildcats Arena in Nottingham in July 2005.

•A clear framework for London 2012 established by Sport England and East Midlands Regional Development Agency (emda) on regional priorities and approach to London 2012’s Nations and Regions group.

•Buy in gained from Regions MPs through meeting at House of Commons with London 2012 representatives.

•Presentation to Regional Assembly members on London 2012 opportunities by Regional Director.

•Regional Towards 2012 conference held in February 2006 at Walkers Stadium Leicester, hosted by Steve Cram, with over 200 high level delegates and significant media coverage.

•Regional 2012 Coordinator Post funded by Sport England and emda is advertised.

•Significant input into the South Midlands Growth Area, Sustainable Communities Plan, that ensures future resources for sport.

•173 planning consultations and 90 local plan responses made in 2005/06 secured £4.3 million of inward investment.

•Five county seminars for planning and Leisure officers in partnership with local County Sports Partnerships.

•Social Enterprise kit bag launched and conference hosted with emda and Social Enterprise East Midlands.

•Successful Sports Tourism conference hosted in partnership with emda.

•Regional Economic Strategy includes sport and promotes economic benefits of sport.

•Ongoing development of the Loughborough Sport Park project, a £10 million sports cluster with potential Sport England investment of £1.45 million.

Changed 4 Sport

The Get Active in the Forest project aims to develop Rosliston Forestry Centre in South Derbyshire as the physical activity centre for the National Forest, providing opportunities for increased participation and tourism.

The facilities include a new visitor centre with cycle hire, games and activity rooms, and rooms to be used for leisure activities, and trails that can be used for walking, cycling, running but also features such as rope swings, climbing boulders, laser clay, archery, orienteering courses and community areas.

The project also includes log cabins to provide much needed accommodation in the National Forest and develop tourism opprtunities, bringing in community groups and visitors from outside the region.